A towering figure of French cinema during its golden era in the 1960s, Alain Delon, has passed away after enduring several years of ill health, as confirmed by his family on Sunday.
Renowned for his tough-guy image on screen, Delon starred in iconic films such as ‘The Samurai’ and ‘Borsalino’.
In recent years, the actor had withdrawn from public life, becoming nearly reclusive. His family’s internal conflicts have also been a prominent topic in French media.
In the wake of his passing, Brigitte Bardot led the tributes, expressing that Delon’s death had left a “huge void that nothing and no-one will be able to fill.”
Often hailed as the “most beautiful man in the movies,” Delon captivated audiences with a diverse range of roles, from ruthless murderers to charming conmen. His career spanned several decades, with his prominence in films waning from the 1990s, though he remained a staple in the celebrity world. Over the course of his career, Delon appeared in nearly 90 films.
French President Emmanuel Macron also paid tribute, stating that Delon “played legendary roles and made the world dream.” On X, Macron added, “Melancholy, popular, secretive, he was more than a star: he was a French monument.”
A statement from Delon’s family read, “Alain Fabien, Anouchka, Anthony, as well as (his dog) Loubo, are deeply saddened to announce the passing of their father. He passed away peacefully in his home in Douchy, surrounded by his three children and his family.”
Le Parisien newspaper hailed Delon as “a legend of the cinema,” while Liberation referred to him as “a leading figure of cinema, symbol of shadowy masculinity, the actor with crazy charisma.”
Brigitte Bardot, in a statement to AFP, remarked that Delon “represented the best of France’s ‘prestige cinema'” and described him as “an ambassador of elegance, talent, beauty. I lose a friend, an alter ego, a partner.”
Delon’s last major public appearance took place at the Cannes Film Festival in May 2019, where he was honoured with an honourary Palme d’Or.
During the event, he delivered an emotional speech that seemed to be a farewell to his cinematic career.
“It’s a bit of a posthumous tribute, but from my lifetime,” he said. “I am going to leave, but I won’t leave without thanking you.”
Former president of the Cannes Festival, Gilles Jacob, described Delon as “a lion… an actor with a steely gaze,” while Alberto Barbera, director of the Venice Film Festival, called him an “icon” who had ascended “to the Olympus of the immortals.”
Reacting to the news of his death, one of Delon’s Parisian fans remarked to Reuters News Agency: “I thought he could never die.”
For decades, Delon’s career and personal life were closely followed by the French public, with magazines like Paris-Match chronicling his numerous romantic escapades across Europe at the height of his fame.
However, his life was not without controversy, including his support for Jean-Marie Le Pen, the far-right National Front leader, which drew criticism due to Le Pen’s stance on the death penalty and same-sex marriage.
Delon also faced accusations of misogyny over his relationships with women.
In more recent years, Delon’s family struggles became increasingly public, with disputes among his three surviving children making headlines in France.
These included disagreements over his medical care after his 2019 stroke and a legal battle involving his former housekeeper, Hiromi Rollin, who was ejected by his children last year and later sued them for allegedly endangering Delon by withholding his medication.
Further controversy arose in February of this year when French police confiscated 72 firearms and 3,000 rounds of ammunition from Delon’s home, as he lacked a gun license.
A shooting range was also discovered at his Douchy-Montcorbon estate.
In April, a judge placed Delon under “reinforced curatorship,” restricting his ability to manage his assets, marking the latest chapter in the turbulent final years of a cinematic legend.
