French film icon Alain Delon, a polarizing figure admired by many for his striking looks and criticized by others for his perceived arrogance, has passed away at the age of 88, his children announced on Sunday in a statement to AFP.
“Alain Fabien, Anouchka, Anthony, along with his dog Loubo, are deeply saddened to share the news of their father’s passing. He died peacefully at home in Douchy, surrounded by his children and family,” the statement read, following months of public disputes over Delon’s declining health.
The legendary actor, famous for his roles in classics like Purple Noon (1960) and Le Samouraï (1967), passed away around 3:00 am (0100 GMT), his son Anthony confirmed to AFP.
After the 1990s, Delon rarely appeared on screen but made headlines in 2023 when his three children filed a complaint against his live-in assistant, Hiromi Rollin, accusing her of harassment and abusive behavior. The family became embroiled in a public legal battle, highlighting the actor’s health struggles, which included a stroke in 2019.
Following Delon’s death, his family has requested privacy.
Before his stroke, Delon made his final significant public appearance in May 2019, where he received an honorary Palme d’Or at the Cannes Film Festival. “It feels like a posthumous tribute, but during my lifetime,” he remarked while accepting the award. “I may be leaving soon, but not without thanking you all.”
Delon spent his last years in his secluded home in northeast France, surrounded by high walls, where he had planned to be buried near his beloved dogs.
In 2015, Delon’s former partner Mireille Darc described him as living in “deep, chosen solitude, in another world, in the past with those he deeply loved.” Fellow 1960s star Brigitte Bardot once characterized him as “the best and the worst, both inaccessible and so close, cold and hot.”
A natural talent, Delon was seen as an instinctive genius rather than a method actor, relying heavily on his undeniable charisma. “He’s not just an actor, Alain Delon. He’s an object of desire,” remarked actor Vincent Lindon in a 2012 documentary.
Delon’s captivating looks made him a cinematic darling in the 1960s, often cast as the enigmatic and deadly anti-hero, as seen in Purple Noon, which later inspired The Talented Mr. Ripley. He also defined the archetype of the silent, cerebral hitman with his role in Jean-Pierre Melville’s Le Samouraï (1967). This portrayal influenced a generation of filmmakers, including Martin Scorsese, Quentin Tarantino, and Hong Kong’s John Woo. However, Delon never achieved major success in Hollywood.
Despite his widespread acclaim, Delon also faced significant backlash. His support for the controversial politician Jean-Marie Le Pen, leader of the far-right National Front, attracted criticism, as did his complex views on women and relationships. Delon denied allegations of domestic violence, though he admitted to slapping women in self-defense during conflicts.
Known for his larger-than-life persona, Delon often spoke of himself in the third person, a trait that invited both mockery and fascination. Yet, for many fans, he will forever be remembered for his iconic line in Le Samouraï: “There is no greater solitude than that of a samurai, unless it is that of a tiger in the jungle.”
