Rabat – French actor Alain Delon, a towering figure in French cinema, died at the age of 88, his three children confirmed today.
“He passed away peacefully in his home in Douchy, surrounded by his three children and his family,” a family statement released to AFP said.
Delon, whose health had declined following a stroke in 2019, had retreated to his estate in Douchy, in France’s Val de Loire region, rarely leaving its confines.
French president Emmanuel Macron honored Delon’s legacy, describing him as a “giant of French culture” on social media platform X.
“Alain Delon has played legendary roles and made the world dream. Lending his unforgettable face to shake up our lives. Melancholic, popular, secretive, he was more than a star: he was a French monument,” Macron added.
Delon gained prominence with his roles in Italian director Luchino Visconti’s films “Rocco and His Brothers” (1960) and “The Leopard” (1963).
A cinematic legend, but controversial figure
His career continued to soar with notable performances in Henri Verneuil’s “Melodie en Sous-Sol” (1963) and Jean-Pierre Melville’s “Le Samourai” (1967), in which his portrayal of a solitary contract killer was widely acclaimed.
Delon’s personal life was marked by tumult. Born on November 8, 1935, just outside Paris, he was placed in foster care at age four after his parents’ divorce.
His rebellious youth saw him expelled from several boarding schools before he joined the French Marines at 17 and served in Indochina. Upon returning to France, he worked various jobs before his breakthrough in cinema, which began with his debut in “Quand la femme s’en mele” (1957).
In 1968, Delon found himself embroiled in a high-profile scandal known as the Markovic affair, which involved allegations of sex, drugs, and murder among French high society. Although he was questioned by authorities, he was never charged.
Despite these controversies, Delon’s acting prowess was widely recognized. In 1985, he won the César Award for Best Actor, France’s equivalent of an Oscar, for his portrayal of an alcoholic in Bertrand Blier’s “Our Story.”
He also received a Golden Globe nomination for his role as the passionate, penniless Tancredi in Luchino Visconti’s classic “The Leopard.”
Off the screen however, Delon was regarded as a polarizing figure for his political views. His close ties with Jean-Marie Le Pen, the controversial leader of France’s far-right National Front party, drew significant criticism.
According to reports, Delon himself acknowledged a “50-year friendship” with Le Pen, further fueling the debate surrounding his public persona.
Some have also reproached him for his stances including his endorsement of the death penalty and his opposition to same-sex marriages.
His last major public appearance occurred in 2019 when he was awarded a Palme d’Or for his career at the Cannes Film Festival.
This decision faced immense backlash from women’s rights organizations, citing his previous admissions in which he admitted to slapping women. A petition asking not to honor him garnered over 25,000 signatures.
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