French Acting Legend Alain Delon Dies at 88

Alain Delon, the internationally acclaimed French actor known for his roles as both the bad guy and the hero, has passed away at the age of 88. Delon’s family shared the news with French media.

“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,” Delon’s children said in a statement.

With his good looks and gentle manner, Delon exuded a blend of toughness and vulnerability that established him as one of France’s leading men. Delon’s career extended beyond film; he was also a producer, stage actor, and later appeared in numerous television movies.

Tributes to Delon flooded social platforms almost instantly, and major French media outlets shifted to comprehensive coverage of his illustrious career. French President Emmanuel Macron praised Delon on X, calling him “a French monument.”

“Alain Delon has played legendary roles and made the world dream,” Macron wrote. “Melancholic, popular, secretive, he was more than a star.”

Earlier this year, Delon’s son Anthony revealed that his father had been diagnosed with B-cell lymphoma, a type of cancer. Over the past year, Delon’s declining health was a focal point of a family dispute that played out through the media.

At his career peak in the 1960s and 1970s, Delon collaborated with renowned directors such as Luchino Visconti and Joseph Losey. Despite his later disenchantment with the film industry, believing it had been ruined by money and commerce, Delon continued to work steadily, appearing in numerous TV films even into his 70s.

Delon’s memorable roles ranged from morally complex characters to romantic leads. He made a considerable impression in 1960’s “Plein Soleil,” directed by Réne Clément, where he played a murderer trying to assume the identity of his victims.

In addition to several Italian films, Delon notably worked with Luchino Visconti in “Rocco and His Brothers” (1961), where he portrayed a self-sacrificing brother. The film earned the Special Jury Prize at the Venice Film Festival.

Visconti’s 1963 film “Le Guepard,” also starring Delon, won the Palme d’Or at the Cannes Film Festival. Delon appeared in other notable films such as “Is Paris Burning,” “La Piscine,” and “The Assassination of Trotsky” in 1972.

In 1968, Delon transitioned to producing, creating 26 films by 1990. His unshakable confidence was evident in a 1996 interview with Femme, where he said, “I like to be loved the way I love myself!”

Delon’s career was not without controversy. Involved in disputes over controversial statements on various social issues, he nevertheless received a Palme d’Honneur at the 2019 Cannes Film Festival, a decision that generated further debate.

The Brigitte Bardot Foundation, known for its work in animal protection, honored Delon, calling him “an exceptional man, an unforgettable artist and a great friend of animals.” They noted that Delon was a close friend of Brigitte Bardot, another French film legend.

Renowned French film producer Alain Terzian stated that Delon was “the last of the giants.” Terzian, who worked with Delon on several projects, recalled the actor’s magnetic presence and the deep respect he commanded wherever he went.

Born on November 8, 1935, in Sceaux, just south of Paris, Delon was placed with a foster family after his parents’ separation when he was four. He attended a Roman Catholic boarding school before joining the navy at 17 and serving in Indochina. Upon his return to France in 1956, he worked various odd jobs before finding his calling in acting.

Delon had three children: Anthony with his then-wife Nathalie Canovas, and Anouchka and Alain-Fabien with Rosalie van Breemen. Although widely believed to be the father of Ari Boulogne, the son of German model and singer Nico, Delon never publicly acknowledged paternity.

Delon diversified his interests throughout his life. From developing cologne to collecting art, he always stayed active. He announced his retirement in 1999 but continued to act, even making appearances in several TV police shows.

Maintaining his good looks was critical to Delon. He once told L’Humanite Hebdo that he wouldn’t still be in the business if he weren’t still handsome, and famously added, “You’ll never see me old and ugly, because I’ll leave before, or I’ll die.”

In 2019, Delon encapsulated his feelings about his life and career during a gala event at the Cannes Film Festival. “One thing I’m sure about is that if there’s something I’m proud of, really, the only thing, it’s my career,” he said, highlighting the enduring legacy he leaves behind.

Source: CBS News, AFP, France Inter