Yul Brynner was a master storyteller who loved spinning tales, especially those about himself. The iconic actor, forever remembered as the commanding King Mongkut in The King and I, had a flair for drama both on and off the screen. He once claimed he fought with Loyalist forces during the Spanish Civil War and that his iconic bald head was the result of a machete attack by a stranger! While these stories may have been exaggerated, they were part of what made Yul such an engaging and memorable figure.
Yul's Charismatic Charm
"He was so funny," recalls Brian Tochi, who starred alongside Yul in the 1972 sitcom Anna and the King. "He told so many stories. His mind was always working." Yul had a knack for keeping people entertained, and his larger-than-life persona left a lasting impression on everyone he met. As he once famously said, "People don’t know my real self, and they’re not about to find out." This mysterious air only added to his allure.
Shadows of Childhood
For Yul, the stories he told were more than just entertainment—they were a way to distance himself from a painful past. Born into a wealthy Swiss-Russian family, Yul's early life was marked by heartbreak and disappointment. "When he was about 4, his father abandoned him and ran off with an actress," explains Brian Hannan, author of The Making of the Magnificent Seven: Behind the Scenes of the Pivotal Western. "They were estranged, with his father rarely making contact. Many believe Yul made up fanciful childhood tales because he couldn’t bear to talk about his real childhood." This creative storytelling became a part of who he was, allowing him to craft a persona that captivated audiences worldwide.
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The Circus Years
After his parents' divorce, Yul moved to China and then France with his mother and older sister. At just 13, he dropped out of school and joined the circus as a trapeze acrobat. For five years, he soared through the air, finding solace in the thrill of performing. But a serious injury brought his circus days to an abrupt end. "It was depressing working on the ground," Yul admitted. "I still wanted to fly." This desire to stay in the spotlight would eventually lead him to the world of acting.
A New Chapter in New York
In 1940, Yul moved to New York City with dreams of making it big. It wasn’t an easy journey, but his persistence paid off when a friend convinced him to audition for The King and I. "I hadn’t read the book, so it didn’t mean anything to me," Yul recalled. "I turned it down. But it kept coming back, and finally, I was convinced it was meant for me." This role would not only launch his career but also transform his life in ways he never imagined.
Rise to Fame
The success of The King and I catapulted Yul into stardom. "He was suddenly very wealthy and bought a yacht and took up waterskiing," says Hannan. But fame came with complications. Yul's personal life became a whirlwind of relationships, including a four-year affair with Marlene Dietrich. "[They] indulged their love of culture, visiting museums and art galleries," Hannan explains. Despite his rise to fame, Yul's personal life suffered, with three divorces and a strained relationship with his only son, Rock.
Facing Mortality
A heavy smoker, Yul was diagnosed with terminal illness during a farewell tour of The King and I. Yet, he refused to let it stop him. "You have to make a choice, being sick in bed, and that’s a fearsome kind of thing, or playing in a theater to standing ovations every night," Yul said. "The choice is obvious. I simply go on playing." True to his word, Yul performed until the very end, passing away in 1985 at the age of 65, just months after his final performance.
— Ian Spelling, with reporting by Fortune Benatar
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