Atila Altaunbay may not be a name everyone knows, but his story is both interesting and full of surprises. He became known after marrying Grace Jones, a famous singer, actress, and fashion icon. Many people were shocked when the two got married, mostly because of their big age gap and very different backgrounds.

In this article, we’ll take a simple and friendly look at Atila Altaunbay’s life. We’ll talk about where he came from, what he did before meeting Grace, how they met, how their marriage started, and what made it so unusual. We’ll also look at what happened after the wedding, what challenges they faced, and how things slowly changed over time. Let’s begin!

Atila Altaunbay Profile Summary

Attribute	Details
Full Name	Atila Altaunbay
Birth Year	1976
Death Year	2021
Age at Death	45 years old
Place of Birth	Turkey
Nationality	Turkish
Ethnicity	Arab
Religion	Islam
Profession	Bodyguard, Singer, Actor, Philanthropist
Famous For	Being Grace Jones’ Husband
Marital Status	Separated (Never legally divorced)
Spouse	Grace Jones (m. 1996)
Children	None (Stepfather to Paulo Goude)
Place of Death	Antwerp, Belgium

Who Was Atila Altaunbay?

Atila Altaunbay was a man from Turkey, born in 1976. He came from a Muslim family and was raised with traditional values. His family followed rules that were very important in their culture and religion.

He became known because of his marriage to Grace Jones, but he also had his own talents. He worked as a bodyguard, but that wasn’t all he did. He also tried singing, acting, and modeling. Even though he wasn’t famous like Grace, he had big dreams of his own.

Atila Altaunbay’s Early Life

Atila’s early life was simple. He grew up in Turkey and lived in a family that followed Islamic traditions. As a young man, he moved to Belgium to study and work. Life in Belgium gave him new chances and new ways to explore the world.

At first, he worked small jobs like being a pizza delivery boy. Later, he trained in CPR, AED, and martial arts, which helped him become a professional bodyguard. He was strong, quiet, and good at what he did.

Atila Altaunbay’s Big Dreams

Even though his main job was being a bodyguard, Atila had other dreams too. He loved music and took singing lessons. He even sang at weddings, which made him happy. He didn’t sing for fame, but simply because he enjoyed it.

Atila also wanted to try other things. He worked as a model for a short time and even acted in a movie called Mind Games. He also did some stage plays. These small steps showed that Atila had many hidden talents, even if most people didn’t know about them.

How Atila Met Grace Jones

Atila Altaunbay met Grace Jones in Belgium in the early 1990s. At that time, he was working as her bodyguard. Grace was already a famous star, known for her bold style, deep voice, and hit songs like Slave to the Rhythm.

Even though they were very different, something clicked between them. Atila was quiet and serious. Grace was loud and full of energy. But sometimes, opposites attract. They started spending more time together, and soon, a romance began to grow.

Atila’s Marriage to Grace Jones

Atila Altaunbay Marriage to Grace Jones

After just a few months of dating, something surprising happened. Grace Jones proposed to Atila! Yes — she asked him to marry her. This shocked many people because Grace was 27 years older than Atila.

They got married on February 24, 1996, in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. The wedding was small and private, with only about 50 guests. Grace wore a white lace bustier with tight white pants. After the wedding, they went to the gym and later had their honeymoon in New York. It was a very unique love story.

During their marriage, Atila became a stepfather to Grace’s only child, Paulo Goude. Paulo was from Grace’s earlier relationship. Even though Atila wasn’t Paulo’s real father, he played a kind and caring role during the time they lived together.

Atila’s Marriage Trouble

At first, their marriage seemed strong. But slowly, problems started to show. One big issue came from Atila’s family. In his culture, the youngest son was not allowed to marry before the older brothers. But Atila broke that rule by marrying Grace. Because of this, he lost contact with his family.

The couple also had other problems. Atila was said to be jealous and sometimes very protective. Grace said he wasn’t always like that in the beginning. But over time, things changed. Their different lifestyles and cultures made things even harder.

Then, something very serious happened. During a fight in the kitchen, Atila reportedly threatened Grace with a knife. This scared her deeply. That moment became the final straw. Grace asked him to leave, and that was the end of their life together.Atila Altaunbay’s Second Wedding

After their first wedding in Brazil, Atila Altaunbay and Grace Jones learned that it was not done the right way. The person who led the wedding was a Presbyterian minister, but some people said he was gay, which caused a problem with religious rules. Because of this, some people didn’t see their marriage as valid.

To fix this, they decided to get married again. This time, the second wedding took place in Syracuse, New York, at Grace’s family home. It was a quiet and private ceremony, and Grace’s own father led the wedding. Only close family members were there. After that, their marriage was seen as official.

Even though they were married twice, the couple’s relationship still didn’t work out in the end. They separated after the fight in the kitchen, and Atila left. But here’s the interesting part — they never divorced legally. Grace said she couldn’t find him to start the divorce process. In her mind, they were no longer a couple, but on paper, they were still married.

Atila Altaunbay’s Charity Work

After leaving Grace Jones, Atila Altaunbay disappeared from the spotlight. Most people didn’t know where he went. Later, it was found that he moved back to Belgium, the country where he used to live before meeting Grace. He chose to live a quiet and simple life.

In Belgium, Atila started working with a charity group called Helping Hands Belgium. He became the chairman of the group. He spent his time helping poor people, supporting families in need, and working on small community projects. He never talked to the media and stayed away from fame.

This part of Atila’s life showed a different side of him. He went from being a bodyguard and celebrity husband to someone who worked to help others quietly. Many people in the charity world respected him for his kindness and hard work, even though he never made the news again.

Atila Altaunbay’s Death

Sadly, Atila Altaunbay passed away in October 2021. He was only 45 years old when he died. His death came as a shock to many people, especially because he had stayed out of the public eye for so long.

His death was announced on Helping Hands Belgium’s Facebook page. The group shared their sadness and said Atila had been a wonderful leader. He was described as someone who truly cared about others and always worked to make life better for those in need.

He was buried in Belgium, at the Mehmet Akif Mosque in Antwerp. Many people came to the funeral to say goodbye. But the exact cause of death was never shared. This made some people wonder what really happened. There were even rumors of possible foul play, but nothing was confirmed.

Because of this, his death still feels like a mystery, and many questions remain. But even with the mystery, one thing is clear — Atila’s story touched many people, and he left behind memories that won’t be forgotten.

Final Thoughts

Atila Altaunbay lived a short but very unique life. He came from a quiet background in Turkey and ended up marrying a world-famous star. That alone makes his story special. But there’s more to him than just being Grace Jones’ husband.

He had many hidden talents — he could sing, act, and protect people. He lived through family pressure, a big age-gap marriage, and life in the spotlight. And when that life ended, he walked away and chose a path of kindness and service.

In the end, Atila Altaunbay was a man with many sides. He was a bodyguard, a husband, a singer, and a helper to the poor. His story may not be well known, but it is full of real-life moments — love, struggle, growth, and quiet strength. And that is what makes it truly worth remembering.