Well-known French thespian Alain Delon has passed away at 88 years old after battling with poor health, as confirmed by his relatives.
The actor gained fame for his performances in movies like Purple Noon in 1960, The Leopard in 1963, and Le Samourai in 1967.
A statement released by the family reads: “Alain Fabien, Anouchka, Anthony, and even Loubo (his pet dog), are mourning the loss of their father.
“He peacefully departed in his residence in Douchy, in the presence of his three offspring and loved ones.”
Due to a stroke he suffered in 2019, the actor’s health had been deteriorating, and he seldom ventured out of his residence in Douchy, situated in France’s Val de Loire region.
His final notable public appearance was at the Cannes film festival in May 2019, where he received an honorary Palme d’Or.
Known for his captivating blue eyes, Delon was sometimes tagged as the “French Frank Sinatra” due to his striking appearance – a comparison that Delon did not approve of.
Renowned filmmakers such as Martin Scorsese, Quentin Tarantino, and John Woo from Hong Kong have acknowledged how Delon’s portrayal of the silent assassin in Jean-Pierre Melville’s Le Samourai influenced their work, establishing the archetype of the enigmatic, intellectual assassin that Hollywood often celebrates.
Discover more from Sky News:
Ferris wheel catches fire at music festival
X ‘closes operations’ in Brazil
Famous in France and Japan, Delon did not achieve the same level of success in Hollywood, despite acting alongside icons of American cinema, like Burt Lancaster, when he played the role of apprentice-hitman Scorpio in the 1973 film with the same title.
Off camera, he stirred controversy with his outspoken opinions, including expressing regret for the abolition of the death penalty and speaking critically of gay marriage, legalized in France in 2013.
Delon publicly supported the far-right National Front and personally congratulated founder Jean-Marie Le Pen, an old comrade, when the party performed well in the local elections of 2014.
In his final days, Delon became entangled in a family dispute concerning his care, which made headlines in the French press, leading to a judge placing him under “reinforced curatorship” in April 2024, restricting his ability to manage his possessions freely.
French President Emmanuel Macron expressed his thoughts on Delon’s demise, stating: “Mr. Klein or Rocco, the Leopard or the Samurai, Alain Delon portrayed iconic characters that enchanted the world. His unforgettable visage reshaped our lives. Melancholic, admired, and enigmatic, he transcended being just a star, becoming a beacon of French cinema.”