Philippe Duc, Georgina Rizk’s boyfriend and a local debonair, in 1971. (Credit: L’Orient-Le Jour archives)
Born in 1952 to a French father and a Greek mother, Philippe Duc became so deeply Beirutian and an iconic figure in Lebanon’s bourgeois scene during its golden age that by 1973, L’Orient-Le Jour considered him such a recognizable persona that they didn’t specify his occupation, referring to him merely as “the national and very likable playboy Philippe Duc.” At that time, he was only 21. In case you missed it August fatigue and an antidote of long-reads Athlete, musician, night owl, and soon a nightlife impresario, Philippe effortlessly connected day and night, uniting people with ease. Throughout his life, he rejected typical labels like titles, jobs, or social identities; he had none, yet seemed to embody them all. He never created monumental works or built a successful career or empire, yet Duc became a memorable figure in...
Born in 1952 to a French father and a Greek mother, Philippe Duc became so deeply Beirutian and an iconic figure in Lebanon’s bourgeois scene during its golden age that by 1973, L’Orient-Le Jour considered him such a recognizable persona that they didn’t specify his occupation, referring to him merely as “the national and very likable playboy Philippe Duc.” At that time, he was only 21. In case you missed it August fatigue and an antidote of long-reads Athlete, musician, night owl, and soon a nightlife impresario, Philippe effortlessly connected day and night, uniting people with ease. Throughout his life, he rejected typical labels like titles, jobs, or social identities; he had none, yet seemed to embody them all. He never created monumental works or built a successful career or empire, yet Duc became a memorable figure...
