Alain Delon: Tributes pour in following the death of French actor
Following the death of French film star Alain Delon, his fans and fellow stars have flocked to pay their respects. The legendary actor, producer and fashion icon passed away this weekend aged 88, his children have confirmed.
Delon was famed for his leading performances in classic movies, including Plein Soleil, Le Samouraï and Rocco and His Brothers. “His children, Alain Fabien, Anouchka, Anthony, as well as [his beloved dog] Loubo, are deeply saddened to announce the passing of their father,” a statement issued to the media noted.
According to the early reports, Delon passed away peacefully at his home in Douchy, France. His nearest and dearest were with him at the time. Although his passing is a tragedy for all who loved him and admired his work, Delon had been in poor health for several years following a stroke in 2019.
Alongside his acting endeavours, Delon was a fashion icon of the mid-20th century. His handsome countenance and magnetic presence had him nicknamed the “male Bridget Bardot”. Accordingly, he was often cast in intense leading roles, portraying emotionally fraught young men through a romantic lens.
Born on November 8th, 1935, in Sceaux, France, Delon rose to fame in the 1960s and became one of the most prominent actors in European cinema. Alongside the above-listed movies, Delon starred in The Leopard, Purple Noon, The Eclipse, Mr. Klein, and The Red Circle.
Strong associations with esteemed filmmakers like Luchino Visconti, Jean-Pierre Melville, and Michelangelo Antonioni cemented Delon’s stature within the realm of European cinema, though he never quite broke into Hollywood. The French star seemed happy to conquer the European scene, later embracing film production and entrepreneurship.
By the 1990s, Delon’s output in the film industry began to wane as he took a step back from his acting career. In 2019, when collecting an honorary Palme d’Or at the Cannes Film Festival, Delon appeared to confirm his retirement.
More recent news surrounding 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.
The British actor Michael Warburton has led the tributes, honouring one of his greatest influences. “The epitome of 60’s French cool,” he wrote, captioning a clip from Le Samouraï. “RIP ALAIN DELON – one of French Cinema’s greats, an icon, a star, and beautiful & charismatic to the end.”
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