Paris: French actor Alain Delon, renowned for his roles as a charismatic villain and suave leading man, has passed away at the age of 88, according to French media reports. Delon, who had been in declining health following a stroke in 2019, had largely remained at his estate in Douchy, in the Val de Loire region.
With his striking blue eyes and captivating presence, Delon was often dubbed the “French Frank Sinatra,” a comparison he disliked. Unlike Sinatra, Delon was open about his connections with the underworld, famously acknowledging his ties to figures in organized crime. In a 1970 New York Times interview, Delon addressed his relationships with gangsters, saying, “Most of them the gangsters I know … were my friends before I became an actor. I don’t worry about what a friend does. Each is responsible for his own act. It doesn’t matter what he does.”
Delon’s rise to fame came through his roles in two influential films by Italian director Luchino Visconti: Rocco and His Brothers (1960) and The Leopard (1963). He gained further acclaim for his performances in Henri Verneuil’s Melodie en Sous-Sol (1963) and Jean-Pierre Melville’s Le Samourai (1967), the latter showcasing his talent as a philosophical contract killer.
Although Delon achieved star status in France and was admired in Japan, he did not reach the same level of success in Hollywood, despite notable collaborations, including with Burt Lancaster in Scorpio (1973). His notable roles also include Borsalino (1970), where he starred alongside Jean-Paul Belmondo, and the erotic thriller La Piscine (1969) with Romy Schneider.
Early Life and Career
Born on November 8, 1935, just outside Paris, Delon faced a challenging upbringing. After his parents’ divorce, he was placed in foster care at age four. He experienced a troubled youth, running away from home and being expelled from several boarding schools before joining the Marines at 17, serving in French-ruled Indochina. Returning to France in the mid-1950s, Delon worked as a porter and frequented the Pigalle district before finding his way into acting through a chance meeting with actor Jean-Claude Brialy at the Cannes Film Festival.
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Controversies and Later Life
Delon was known for his outspoken views, including his controversial stance on the abolition of the death penalty and his support for the far-right National Front. His personal life included high-profile relationships with Schneider, German model-turned-singer Nico, and Dutch model Rosalie van Breemen.
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In 2018, Delon revealed his dissatisfaction with modern life, expressing a desire to be buried alongside his Belgian shepherd dog, Loubo. His last major public appearance was receiving an honorary Palme d’Or at the Cannes Film Festival in May 2019.
Delon’s final years were marred by a family dispute over his care, leading to a judge placing him under “reinforced curatorship” in April 2024. He had already been under legal protection due to concerns about his health and well-being.
