French cinema legend dies

French actor Alain Delon has passed away at the age of 88, several local media outlets reported on Sunday. While the cause of death remains unclear, he had been battling a number of health issues after suffering a stroke in 2019.

The announcement was made to AFP by his three children, who said the cinema icon died peacefully at his estate in Douchy, 120km southeast of Paris, surrounded by his loved ones. “His family asks that his privacy be respected in this extremely painful moment of mourning,” the statement said.

This is the handsome French actor, Alain Delon, who is making his American Film debut in Once a Thief. ©  Getty Images / Bettmann

Delon was one of the most prominent figures in European cinema in the 1960s and 1970s, winning acclaim for his roles in films such as the thrillers ‘Le Samourai’, ‘Purple Noon’, and ‘The Swimming Pool’, as well as the epic historical drama ‘The Leopard’. He became a cultural icon and sex symbol, often portraying suave and enigmatic characters.

In 1985, he won the Cesar Award for Best Actor for his performance in the absurdist drama ‘Notre histoire’ (Our Story). In 1991, he was named a Knight of the Legion of Honor, France’s highest civilian award, for his contribution to the development of French culture.

In 2019, the actor suffered a stroke, after which he rarely appeared in public. In January, he was placed under court protection for health reasons, meaning that important decisions such as the sale of property were delegated to a third-party agent.

Alain Delon attends the screening of 'A Hidden Life (Une Vie Cachée)' during the 72nd annual Cannes Film Festival on May 19, 2019 in Cannes, France. ©  Getty Images / Mike Marsland / WireImage

In April, several French media outlets reported that the guardianship regime had been reinforced. The reported move came as his three children – sons Anthony and Alain-Fabien on one side, and daughter Anouchka on the other – engaged in a legal battle to decide who would take care of their father.

After the start of the Ukraine conflict, Delon emerged as a vocal supporter of Kiev. In 2022, he spoke to Vladimir Zelensky, telling him that he would have enlisted in the Ukrainian army to fight Russia had he been younger. In April 2024, he was bestowed with the Order of Merit of Ukraine, one of the country’s highest honors.