Alain Delon, French cinema icon, dead at 88
The icon of French cinema, Alain Delon, has passed away aged 88. The actor was known for championing the golden age of movies in his native France and became a familiar face of the era.
AFP news agency reported his death with a statement from his family, which read: “Alain Fabien, Anouchka, Anthony, as well as (his dog) Loubo, are deeply saddened to announce the passing of their father. He passed away peacefully in his home in Douchy, surrounded by his three children and his family.”
Delon had been battling health issues for a number of years, which had seen him retire from public appearances as he concentrated on spending time with his family and looking after his health. He leaves behind a legacy that few can match.
With over 90 acting credits to his name, Delon’s career was largely guided by two separate paradigms. At the start of his career, the actor was known for his roles as the perennial tough guy with his bullish persona exemplified in 1967’s The Samurai and the 1970 French gangster movie Borsalino.
However, while he often portrayed more rugged roles in movies, Delon was consistently considered the most stylish man in cinema and became a hero of the 1960s cultural revolution. A performer who imbued every performance with magnetic charisma, Delon’s most famous role perhaps arrived with 1963’s The Leopard, which would skyrocket his career and begin his impressive influence.
With chiselled features and a piercing gaze, Delon would come to typify the rise of French cinema and the unavoidable style it brought to the movies. His influence transcends generations and has inspired both filmmakers and actors ever since he made his debut in Send A Woman When The Devil Fails, which was released in 1957.
By the 1990s, Delon had gradually withdrawn from making movies, and his appearances had slowed down. By 2019, when collecting an honorary Palme d’Or at the Cannes Film Festival, Delon appeared to say goodbye to the cinema.
British actor Michael Warburton was one of many who paid tribute to Delon, captioning a clip of his performance with: “RIP Alain Delon – one of French cinemas greats, an icon, a star, and beautiful and charismatic to the end.”
More recent news around Delon has been less tasteful. As well as a huge array of firearms being seized from his home, including 72 weapons and thousands of rounds of ammunition, his family have been publically quarrelling with lawsuits, insults and secret recordings all finding their way into the media. However, for the most part, Delon’s legacy is simply too gilded to be tarnished by such events.
Alain Delon will forever remain an icon. He was an actor who changed the face of French cinema with a powerful glare and an enigmatic persona.
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