The lifetime of Sterling St Jacques: The US’ first male supermodel
- Breathtakingly good-looking, Sterling St. Jacques was a fixture of Nineteen Seventies New York
- He was an everyday at Studio 54, and usually rubbed shoulders with huge names
- St. Jacques vanished within the mid-Nineteen Eighties, and his destiny has by no means been confirmed
- Do you recognize what occurred to St. Jacques? electronic mail [email protected]
He lived a lifetime of untrammeled Nineteen Seventies fabulousness – then appeared to fade off the face of the Earth, leaving solely a tantalizing enigma behind.
But followers of Sterling St. Jacques would anticipate no much less of the world’s first male supermodel, who’s now largely forgotten.
His star blazed brightly all through the disco period, when he bestrode Manhattan like he owned it – and dazzled the higher echelons of the A-list at New York’s iconic Studio 54 nightclub.
Breathtakingly good-looking, with a statuesque physique and astonishing blue eyes, St. Jacques lived in a ritzy Central Park South condominium, a number of blocks from the famed, cocaine-fueled disco palace.
St. Jacques’ strikes there, together with his trademark twirl, have been so clean that they caught the attention of legendary songwriters Bernard Edwards and Nile Rodgers – they usually have been impressed to jot down traditional Sister Sledge hit He’s the Greatest Dancer in his honor.
The mannequin’s charming persona, chiseled cheekbones, and excellent pores and skin dazzled the likes of Bianca Jagger, Liza Minelli, and even Jackie O – with the previous first woman seen fawning over St. Jacques’ kingfisher blue eyes throughout a 1979 dancefloor encounter.
Friends stated St. Jacques’ trademark peepers have been truly the results of contact lenses, along with his pure eye shade a still-striking grey. And that wasn’t his solely secret.
America’s first male supermodel, Sterling St. Jacques, was a person who really had all of it – and an enigma who seemingly vanished off the face of the earth within the mid-80s. Jacques in a glance from Calvin Klein’s fall menswear assortment throughout an occasion in New York in 1976
Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis seems misplaced in St. Jacques’ stare upon Studio 54 circa 1979. The mannequin lived in a ritzy Central Park South condominium and was a fixture of New York’s famously-hedonistic late Nineteen Seventies nightclub scene
Known in Italy as ‘il nero dagli occhi blu’ (the blue eyed black man) St. Jacques’ piercing blue eyes, seen right here in a photograph from the early ’80s, have been the work of contact lenses, along with his eye usually a still-striking grey. Much of his life – like his origins, relationship along with his adoptive dad, and whether or not he even died – stays shrouded in thriller. An album cowl with a photograph shot round 1980 is pictured
’60s star Raymond St. Jacques claimed to be the mannequin’s adopted dad, however most believed that he and Sterling have been truly lovers. A Blaxploitation star who had been the primary African-American to carry an everyday function in a Western, he lived with the mannequin in LA shortly earlier than arriving in New York within the ’70s
Well-aware of his dazzling seems to be and charisma, Sterling relished the eye, and attracted women and men alike. He was even briefly engaged to celebrated mannequin Pat Cleveland, regardless of being homosexual.
Many of the main points of his life stay a thriller, together with his actual identify, his household’s identification and the character of his relationship with a well-known actor who claimed to be his adoptive father. Details of his demise – and affirmation on whether or not he died in any respect – are additionally obscure.
Either means, the person who as soon as posed for the likes of Yves Saint Laurent and Givenchy has left an indelible impression – and legacy that lives on via tantalizing classic images of late Nineteen Seventies Manhattan at its hedonistic peak.
St. Jacques is believed to have been born in Salt Lake City in 1957, however nothing is thought about his childhood or household. He moved to LA for faculty in his late teenagers and have become a go-go dancer whereas there.
In May 1972, the budding actor – then claiming to be 22 years outdated – made headlines when 4 males tried to rob a Bel Air house he had been occupying on the time.
But the property belonged to Raymond St. Jacques, not Sterling. Raymond was a Hollywood actor who claimed to have adopted Sterling someday after August 1969.
It has since been claimed that the 2 have been truly lovers. And it is extensively believed they have been by no means associated, with Sterling possible adopting the older man’s surname. Raymond – a Blaxploitation star who had been the primary African-American to carry an everyday function in a Western – had been in Dallas on the time of the housebreaking.
St Jacques is pictured in a nonetheless from the cult traditional 1978 film The Eyes of Laura Mars, during which Faye Dunaway performs an edgy NYC style photographer stricken by visions of homicide
The mannequin is pictured third from left on the set of The Eyes of Laura Mars, with Faye Dunaway within the foreground
St. Jacques was allegedly alone, and fled after calling police. The 4 males trying the break-in have been apprehended after their automobile stalled within the driveway, cops stated.
Sterling went on to look in Raymond’s’ 1973 movie Book of Numbers, and that 12 months participated in France’s historic Grand Divertissement at Versailles in 1973 – an occasion which pitted up-and-coming American designers towards their established French rivals and which heralded the rise of ready-to-wear clothes over couture.
Raymond St. Jacques, a life-long bachelor, died of lymphoma aged simply 60 in 1990 – a illness usually linked to AIDS – though he was by no means confirmed as having the virus.
By the early Nineteen Seventies, his ‘son’ Sterling had already graced the quilt of Playmen, the Italian model of Playboy, and had achieved print adverts for style titans Yves Saint Laurent, Givenchy, Willi Smith, and Halston.
He is even stated to have been in a relationship with Givenchy founder Hubert de Givenchy and to have lived with the couture icon in his French chateau.
But the pulsating disco of Nineteen Seventies Manhattan quickly lured St. Jacques again to the United States.
His fame bolstered by his work with status designers in Europe, St. Jacques returned as a fully-fledged style mannequin and would parade down catwalks for high designers draped in fur and hand-made fits.
St. Jacques was named the face of Revillon furs and was ceaselessly photographed strolling down runways lined in eye-catching animal pelts.
He bagged a short however memorable function as a mannequin in cult 1978 film The Eyes of Laura Mars, during which Faye Dunaway performs an edgy New York style photographer stricken by visions of her buddies’ murders.
It was after darkish that St. Jacques made his best impression although, by incomes a fame as an unimaginable dancer in a metropolis filled with nightclub expertise.
Grooving to disco was his strong-suit, and the famed ground at Studio 54 was his stage of selection. The membership opened in Hells’ Kitchen in 1977, with its notoriously-strict door coverage admitting solely essentially the most well-known and fabulous. St. Jacques was in a position to breeze previous its bouncers at any time when he visited.
Studio 54 was St. Jacques’ favourite hang-out, and on its iconic, cocaine-fueled dance ground, St. Jacques turned a star in his personal proper, with A-listers flocking to see him. Liza Minnelli and St Jacques dancing at Studio 54 circa 1978
His strikes – together with his trademark twirl – have been so clean that they are stated to have impressed the traditional Sister Sledge hit He’s the Greatest Dancer, and captivated stars like Bianca Jagger, seen trying animated with St. Jacques at Studio 54 circa 1978
Jagger is seen participating in some high-stepping as she dances with the actor-model Jacques throughout the identical outing to the cocaine-fueled dancefloors of Studio 54
The mannequin’s charming persona, chiseled cheekbones, and dexterity charmed the likes of many together with Jagger, seen right here profiting from the 6’2” Adonis’s power for a triumphant pose towards the top of dance quantity
Pirouette companions included Jagger, Liza Minelli, and Onassis, and even the previous first-lady’s daughter Caroline, seen right here aged 20 in St. Jacques’s arms at Studio 54 on December 21, 1977
Six-foot-one Julie Newmar – identified for taking part in the primary Catwoman in Adam West’s Batman collection – additionally took the dancer for a spin, actually swinging from his waist as he supported her throughout one 1979 outing
Studio 54, pictured right here in 1978, was famously adorned with a painted crescent moon snorting cocaine from a spoon. The narcotic was the drug of selection for a lot of Studio regulars
Pirouette companions included Bianca Jagger, Liza Minelli, and Jacqueline Onassis, in addition to the previous first-lady’s daughter with JFK, Caroline Kennedy.
Currently the ambassador to Australia, she is seen being carried by St Jacques as a 20-year-old, in a snap taken at Studio 54 circa 1978.
In it, the long run diplomat – like a number of others – appears to swoon over the 6’2” Adonis.
Her mom appeared equally enthralled, as did actresses Tatum O’Neal and Candace Bergen – each of whom have been additionally photographed being hoisted up by the mannequin on the identical iconic dance ground.
Six-foot-one Julie Newmar – identified for taking part in the primary Catwoman in Adam West’s Batman collection – additionally took St. Jacques for a spin, actually swinging from his waist as he supported her throughout one 1979 outing.
He was snapped with male icons too, together with Elton John, Michael Jackson and Karl Lagerfeld.
While St. Jacques would usually minimize up the ground with such socialites, his most typical dance companion was Ebony Fashion Fair mannequin Pat Cleveland.
One of the primary feminine African-Americans in style to attain prominence as a runway and print mannequin, Cleveland additionally partied with the likes of Warhol, and is among the most well-known names of the late Nineteen Seventies American style machine.
She and Sterling walked catwalks collectively and appeared in public as a pair – regardless that everybody knew St Jacques was homosexual.
While St Jacques would usually minimize up the ground with such socialites, his most typical dance companion was Ebony Fashion Fair mannequin Pat Cleveland, seen right here on the runway along with her fellow supermodel in 1976
One of the primary feminine African-Americans in style to attain prominence as a runway and print mannequin, Cleveland – seen right here with St. Jacques circa 1977 – additionally partied with the likes of Warhol, and holds the same, lasting legacy
Well-aware of his dazzling seems to be and charisma, Sterling – seen right here on a Revillon Furs runway in 1976 – relished the eye, and attracted women and men alike
Minnelli dancing with St. Jacques circa 1979, certainly one of his closing Studio 54 outings earlier than relocating to Europe and finally disappearing from the general public eye
Candice Bergen was one other A-list addition to St. Jacques’ dance steady, seen right here circa 1979 at Studio 54 in New York
Treated as royalty at any time when they arrived, the pair determined to marry in 1976, however that plan quickly fell aside.
In a latest memoir, Cleveland, now 73, blamed the breakup on St Jacques being homosexual – a actuality most accepted as rumors swirled round him and his fairly boy attract.
She additionally informed of how St. Jacques had demanded her engagement ring so he might promote it for medicine.
Cleveland went on to seek out happiness and contentment, marrying Dutch model-turned photographer Paul von Ravenstein in 1982.
The couple stay fortunately married and have two youngsters.
The two appeared in public as a pair – regardless of it being extensively identified that St Jacques was homosexual. Treated as royalty at Studio 54, the 2 reportedly dated and have been even briefly engaged in 1976, however that association fell aside. They are seen strolling a runway collectively the 12 months earlier than
A uncommon shade picture of St Jacques having fun with the splendid environment of Studio 54 in 1977 – with two girls clearly delighted to be in his orbit. He is seen carrying French singer Régine Zylberberg, who handed in 2022, whereas an unidentified girl in crimson stood behind observes proceedings with evident glee
His relationship with Raymond – a lifelong bachelor who lived and died in LA – additional fueled these rumors, after the actor actor claimed he adopted St. Jacques someday after 1969, with a information report in 1972 later claiming the mannequin lived with Raymond and was aged 22
As for St. Jacques – seen right here at Studio 54 Shirley Bassey circa 1977 – he was stated to have been 22 the 12 months earlier than, and seems to be nicely into maturity within the Studio 54 pictures
The images have been taken after St. Jacques – seen right here with Latvian dancer and eventual Sex and The City Star Mikhail Baryshnikov at Studio 54 in 1977 – moved from Raymond’s Bel Air house to NYC, the place he’s stated to have died of AIDS in 1984. No proof of his demise exists in the present day
His house whereas in New York was this well-known condominium constructing on Central Park South, which additionally performed house to Jimmy Buffet, earlier than his passing final 12 months
But whereas Cleveland settled down, St. Jacques continued to dwell life within the quick lane.
His romance with Raymond St. Jacques seems to have fizzled-out by the mid-Nineteen Seventies, though Sterling proved widespread with sugar daddies who would usually lavish him with allowances, and would whisk him away on a non-public jet if he so happy.
Said to be a ‘kept man’ by these admirers, St. Jacques continued his hard-partying way of life into the early 80s, when he moved to Europe in an try and turn into a nightclub DJ whereas additionally advancing his modeling profession.
But simply months later, he complained to journalists that he was broke – and commenced mulling the opportunity of opening up a dance studio in Manhattan, following Studio 54’s notorious closure over unpaid taxes.
Sadly, the disco period was over – and St. Jacques abruptly discovered himself out of style. He was diminished to showing in low-brow magazines, whereas additionally offering performing Italo disco songs that made little impression outdoors of Italy.
He discovered some success there as a singer, however his dream of constructing a bombastic return to the Big Apple was minimize quick by a daunting new well being situation, in keeping with studies from the time.
They point out that by 1984, St. Jacques had contracted the AIDS virus – which on the time was killing hundreds of younger homosexual males – and which hit New York’s inventive industries significantly onerous.
St. Jacques is pictured singing on an Italian TV present in 1984. Some sources declare he died of AIDS the identical 12 months, whereas others say he succumbed to the virus in 1992. His demise stays shrouded in thriller
One Facebook commenter shared this picture of St Jacques he stated was taken in 1986 – casting doubt on claims the star died of AIDS in 1984
But Sterling’s destiny stays shrouded in thriller. He is believed to have succumbed to AIDS – though some memorials give his date of demise as 1984, whereas others say he died in 1992.
The solely out there public file for St. Jacques dates again to 1983 and lists two Manhattan addresses, one at 54 West fifty fifth Street, simply off Fifth Avenue and some blocks from his beloved Studio 54.
Another was on the exceptionally prestigious 100 Central Park South condominium constructing, a number of doorways down from the Plaza Hotel.
A grainy YouTube clip exhibits him acting on an Italian music present in 1984, along with his dance strikes surprisingly muted. That was his closing confirmed public look.
Some buddies indicated that he died that 12 months as a consequence of issues from the late-stage HIV an infection, with the Big Apple usually being described as his place of demise.
But additional compounding the thriller is a snap of a healthy-looking man stated to be St. Jacques enjoyable on a seashore in Riccione, Italy, in 1986. Its legitimacy, as of 2024, has but to be confirmed.
And in a 1988 interview with the Chicago Tribune, Raymond St Jacques, then 58, fueled conspiracies that his supposed son remained alive, insisting he nonetheless had two residing youngsters.
During the interview – his final earlier than his demise simply two years later – he particularly said that St. Jacques was showing on a tv present in Düsseldorf, though proof of this look has by no means emerged.
Raymond St. Jacques went on to die in August 1990 from lymphoma, a kind of malignant most cancers that usually types within the lymphatic system of sufferers who’ve acquired AIDS.
Further intrigue and one other hyperlink to Germany emerged because of an internet memorial put up for Sterling. Its commenter stated they’d heard from a number of sources that St. Jacques was residing in Cologne within the early 90s and attempting to enroll in a Spanish course.
His IMDb profile lists 1992 because the 12 months of his demise, with some buddies claiming he’d turn into a recluse in his closing years because of the lack of his seems to be, profession and well being.
A supply near certainly one of St. Jacques most cherished outdated buddies informed DailyMail.com that he had certainly died – however was unable to supply additional element.
So the forgotten star’s passing has by no means been formally confirmed, leaving his true destiny – a minimum of for now – shrouded in questions.
Whatever the conclusion to St. Jacques unimaginable story, on-line sleuths and 70s nostalgia followers proceed to be fascinated by the mannequin, whose reminiscence lives on in pictures of a stunning however long-since vanished world.
