Renowned French movie icon Alain Delon passed away at the age of 88.
Alain Delon peacefully bid farewell in the wee hours of a Sunday, surrounded by his three offspring and kin, as per the statement released. The famed actor had been battling severe health issues after multiple strokes and had been leading a secluded life on his farm near Paris since 2019. He had been a seldom sight in theaters since the late '90s, but remained in the limelight due to his personal escapades. Delon's last significant appearance was at the 2019 Cannes Film Festival, where he was honored with the Golden Palm for his lifelong achievements.
"Alain Delon embodied iconic roles, allowing the world to dream," French President Macron penned down on digital platform X on that day. He admired the actor as "a French landmark." Italian actress Claudia Cardinale, who shared screen space with Delon in "The Leopard" in 1963, said in reference to the character Delon portrayed in the movie, "The party's over. Tancredi's off dancing with the stars."
French cinema legend Brigitte Bardot stated that Delon leaves behind "a massive void that nothing and nobody can fill." She lost "a friend, an alter ego, a partner."
Former Cannes Film Festival president Gilles Jacob paid tribute to Delon as "a lion" and "an actor with a piercing gaze." Alberto Barbera, director of the Venice Film Festival, spoke of Delon as "an icon who has ascended to the Olympus of the immortals."
Following the news of the film star's demise, people laid flowers at the entrance of his house in Douchy, and an accordionist played some tunes.
Delon was born on November 8, 1935, in Sceaux near Paris. He was renowned for his natural genius, unlike many of his more intellectual contemporaries. He boasted of never having worked on his acting technique, instead relying on his charm. At the beginning of his career in the '60s, Delon mesmerized audiences with his seemingly flawless appearance in films like "Only the Sun Was a Witness."
Speedily, his signature role became that of an alluring assassin and enigmatic intriguer, which he embodied in Luchino Visconti's "The Leopard" (1963) and Jean-Pierre Melville's "Le Samouraï" (1967). Other standout moments in Delon's career included "The Swimming Pool" alongside German actress Romy Schneider, and "Borsalino" with Jean-Paul Belmondo.
Besides his films, many of which are considered classics, Delon was also known for his romantic liaisons. He had numerous tumultuous affairs and relationships, including with Romy Schneider, whom he later referred to as "the love of my life."
Women, Delon once confessed, inspired him "to be who I am." Besides Schneider, this included his only wife Nathalie Delon, the mother of his son Anthony, his long-term partner Mireille Darc, and Dutchwoman Rosalie Van Breemen, with whom he had his children Anouchka and Alain Fabien. However, he was also accused of domestic violence by his sons and was heavily criticized by feminists.
In his later years, Delon made headlines for his support of the far-right party Front National (later Rassemblement National), whose founder Jean-Marie Le Pen he referred to as "a dear friend." Publicly, he spoke out in favor of capital punishment and against homosexual relationships. Delon's habit of speaking about himself in the third person also made him unpopular with some critics.
Finally, Delon's children fought publicly and in court over his health, leading to him being placed under a guardian's supervision. Even during his lifetime, the actor expressed his wish to be buried on his estate alongside his dogs.
Age and health issues significantly impacted Alain Delon's ability to continue acting in films, with his last significant appearance being at the 2019 Cannes Film Festival. Despite his age, Delon had a remarkable career spanning several decades, starting in the '60s.
