Who is Olivier Martinez, Halle Berry’s ex and baby daddy? The actor’s been called ‘French Brad Pitt’ and dated famous stars including Rosie Huntington-Whiteley, Kylie Minogue and Juliette Binoche

Aug 22 , 2024

Halle Berry and her ex-husband Olivier Martinez are engaged in a heated custody battle over their son Maceo-Robert. Photos: @halleberry/Instagram, Olivier Martinez/Facebook

Berry and Martinez split in 2015 but their divorce only finalised last year; she is now seeking sole custody, claiming her ex’s ‘turbulent’ behaviour causes their son to act ‘angry and combative’ with her

Berry is currently promoting new film The Union with Mark Wahlberg and has been dating singer-songwriter Van Hunt … but how did she and the Alain Delon lookalike meet?

Hollywood actress Halle Berry is seeking sole legal custody of her son, 10-year-old Maceo-Robert, whom she shares with ex-husband Olivier Martinez. The Oscar-winning actress claims Martinez’s “turbulent” behaviour causes their son to act “angry and combative” with her.

The 58-year-old Oscar winner also alleged that Martinez refuses to address Maceo’s “behavioural and learning issues” and prioritises football over studies, according to new legal documents obtained by TMZ.

Halle Berry (right) with Mark Wahlberg in August, promoting their movie The Union. Photo: AP

This custody battle has opened anew nearly a year since their divorce last August – almost eight years after their 2015 split. It’s not ideal timing for Berry, whose Netflix movie The Union with Mark Wahlberg has just released.

Notwithstanding troubles with her ex, Berry is happily dating singer-songwriter Van Hunt who recently wished the actress happy birthday with a loving Instagram post: “Happy birthday to you. No one sees the commitment. The wear and tear. But I am proud to say I do – as our love goes and grows.”

But who is Halle Berry’s ex Olivier Martinez, and what do we know about him?

What is Olivier Martinez’s background?

Olivier Martinez has often been compared to Brad Pitt and Alain Delon. Photo: Olivier Martinez/Facebook

Touted as the “French Brad Pitt” and often compared to the late Alain Delon, Martinez has a rags-to-riches story. He was born to working-class parents Robert Martinez and Rosemarie Martinez in a Paris suburb and grew up there, per Cinetropic. His father was a professional boxer of Spanish descent from North Africa. According to IMDB, his French mother worked as a secretary. His reported net worth is US$10 million, per Celebrity Net Worth.

He was initially not interested in Hollywood

Olivier Martinez is a boxer-turned-actor. Photo: Olivier Martinez/Facebook

Martinez originally followed in his father’s footsteps and was a professional boxer for three years, but had to quit because of a car accident. He ended up passing an audition at the Conservatoire National Supérieur d’Art Dramatique and was discovered.