French film legend Alain Delon has passed away at the age of 88. Renowned for his tough-guy image on screen, Delon was a major figure during the golden age of French cinema, starring in classics like The Samurai and Borsalino.
In recent years, Delon had been in declining health and had largely withdrawn from public life. His family’s internal conflicts had also attracted significant attention in France.
Brigitte Bardot, another icon of French cinema, expressed her grief, stating that Delon’s death left “a huge void that nothing and no-one will be able to fill.”
Often described as the most handsome man in film, Delon captured the hearts of audiences with his versatile roles, whether playing a murderer or a charming conman.
His performances in 1960s hits like The Leopard and Rocco and His Brothers solidified his status as a cinematic icon.
Though his film appearances became less frequent from the 1990s onward, Delon remained a prominent figure in celebrity news. Over his career, he appeared in nearly 90 films.
On Sunday, French President Emmanuel Macron paid tribute to Delon, stating that the actor “played legendary roles and made the world dream.”
In a message on X (formerly Twitter), Macron added, “Melancholy, popular, secretive, he was more than a star: he was a French monument.”
A statement from Delon’s family, including his children Alain Fabien, Anouchka, and Anthony, said, “He passed away peacefully in his home in Douchy, surrounded by his three children and his family.”
French media outlets such as Le Parisien and Libération honored Delon as a “legend of the cinema” and “a symbol of shadowy masculinity” with “crazy charisma.”
Brigitte Bardot, in a statement to AFP news agency, described Delon as “an ambassador of elegance, talent, beauty,” adding, “I lose a friend, an alter ego, a partner.”
Delon’s last significant public appearance was at the Cannes Film Festival in May 2019, where he received an honorary Palme d’Or.
During the event, he delivered an emotional speech that seemed to mark his farewell to cinema, saying, “It’s a bit of a posthumous tribute, but from my lifetime. I am going to leave, but I won’t leave without thanking you.”
Gilles Jacob, former president of the Cannes Festival, referred to Delon as “a lion… an actor with a steely gaze,” while Alberto Barbera, director of the Venice Film Festival, hailed him as an “icon” who had ascended “to the Olympus of the immortals.”
Delon’s personal life was as colorful as his career, frequently making headlines in publications like Paris Match. His romantic exploits and relationships were closely followed, though they also drew criticism.
Delon faced backlash for his support of Jean-Marie Le Pen, the far-right National Front leader, known for advocating the death penalty and opposing same-sex marriage.
His relationships with women were also controversial, leading to accusations of misogyny.
More recently, Delon’s family troubles had become the focus of public attention. He had three children—two sons and a daughter—by two different women, as well as a third son who was unacknowledged and is now deceased.
In recent years, his surviving children had aired their grievances in the media, with disputes ranging from disagreements over his medical care following a stroke in 2019 to conflicts involving his former housekeeper, Hiromi Rollin.
Delon’s children expelled Rollin last year, but she later filed a lawsuit against them, accusing them of endangering Delon’s life by withholding his medications.
In April, a judge placed Delon under “reinforced curatorship,” limiting his ability to manage his assets independently.
Delon also made news in February when French police confiscated 72 firearms and 3,000 rounds of ammunition from his home, as he did not possess a gun license. A shooting range was discovered at his mansion in Douchy-Montcorbon.
Source-BBC
