Akio Bouillon, the eldest son of entertainer Joséphine Baker, has died in Dordogne, France, according to Angélique de Labarre. He was 78 years old.
Bouillon expressed a desire to be buried in the Dordogne region,near his grandparents-the parents of Jo Bouillon,Joséphine Baker’s husband-at the château de Fayrac cemetery. This location is adjacent to the grounds of Les Milandes, the historic château Baker restored and called home. De labarre recounted that Bouillon recently shared this wish, stating, “He told me he wanted to be wiht them, in this cemetery just next to Les Milandes because he felt Périgourdin.” His passing marks the end of a direct familial link to one of France’s most celebrated performers and a chapter in the history of Les Milandes, a site synonymous with Baker’s legacy.
Born in 1945, Bouillon lived a relatively private life despite his famous parentage. Joséphine Baker, an American-born French entertainer, activist, and French Resistance agent during World war II, adopted him with her husband, Jo Bouillon.Baker died in 1975, and Les Milandes subsequently fell into disrepair before being restored. Bouillon’s wish to be interred in the Dordogne underscores his deep connection to the region and his family history. Details regarding a memorial service have not yet been released.
