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International French Sex Symbol Movie Star Passed Away At 88

Alain Delon, French movie actor has passed away at 88.

“He passed away peacefully in his home in Douchy,(France) surrounded by his three children and his family,” according to a family statement sent to the AFP. The actor had a stroke in 2019 and was in poor health for the last few years. Early this year, his son Anthony told the press his father had been diagnosed with B-cell lymphoma, a kind of cancer.

The House of Dior posted a tribute:

“The House is deeply saddened by the news of the passing of one of its dearest friends. Since 2009, Alain Delon had been the face of Eau Sauvage, Dior’s iconic fragrance and a symbol of timeless masculinity. The partnership was a natural fit, with Delon’s elegance and commanding presence perfectly embodying the revolutionary essence of the scent. Alain Delon and Dior—a legendary story that will forever remain fragrant.”

Alain Delon, born on November 8, 1935, in Sceaux, a suburb of Paris, was a French actor known as a sex symbol. Over a career spanning more than five decades, Delon had become one of France’s most celebrated and enduring film stars.

The star’s early life was tumultuous. His parents divorced when he was four, and he was raised by foster parents. Delon attended several schools, but his rebellious nature led to several expulsions. At 17, he enlisted in the French Navy and served in the First Indochina War. Upon returning to France, Delon worked a series of jobs before a chance meeting with a talent scout set him on the path to acting.

Delon’s big break came in 1957 when he was cast in “Send a Woman When the Devil Fails” (Quand la femme s’en mêle). His role in the film showcased his brooding good looks and magnetic screen presence. qHowever, it was his collaboration with director René Clément in “Purple Noon” (1960), a film adaptation of Patricia Highsmith’s novel “The Talented Mr. Ripley,” that cemented his status as a rising star. Delon’s portrayal of the charming yet sociopathic Tom Ripley received international acclaim.

Delon with his daughter Anouchka at the 2010 Cannes Film Festival

Throughout the 1960s and 1970s, Delon starred in a series of successful films. He became known for his roles in crime dramas and thrillers. Notable films from this period include “Rocco and His Brothers” (1960), directed by Luchino Visconti, where Delon played Rocco. He also starred in “The Leopard” (1963), another Visconti film, where he played the young and ambitious Tancredi Falconeri.

One of Delon’s most iconic roles came in 1967 with Jean-Pierre Melville’s “Le Samouraï.” In this film, he played Jef Costello, a solitary hitman who follows a strict code of conduct.

In the 1980s and 1990s, he appeared in films such as “Notre histoire” (1984) and “Nouvelle Vague” (1990). While his on-screen appearances became less frequent in the 2000s, Delon remained an influential figure in the film industry.

Alain Delon’s contributions to cinema have been recognized with numerous awards and honors. He received the César Award for Best Actor for his role in “Notre histoire” and was awarded an honorary Palme d’Or at the Cannes Film Festival in 2019 for his lifetime achievements.

Rest In Peace