Alain Delon, an icon of European cinema, has passed away.
The actor died peacefully at his home in Douchy, France, according to his children in a statement to AFP, via Business Insider.
“Alain Fabien, Anouchka, Anthony, as well as (his dog) Loubo, are deeply saddened to announce the passing of their father,” the statement said.
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“He passed away peacefully in his home in Douchy, surrounded by his three children and his family,” the statement continues.
Alain starred in major films of the ’60s and 70′s and beyond, including Le Samouraï, Rocco and His Brothers, and The Leopard. His biggest box office hit came when he played Julius Cesar in the 2008 comic book adaptation Asterix at the Olympic Games, which grossed more than $130 million worldwide.
French President Emmanuel Macron described the late star as a “French monument.”
“Alain Delon has played legendary roles and made the world dream,” he added. “Melancholic, popular, secretive, he was more than a star.”
He had been in poor health since experiencing a stroke in 2019, according to AFP, and his last major public appearance was at the Cannes Film Festival in 2019 when he received an honorary Palme d’Or for his contribution to cinema.
He faced controversy from women’s rights groups at the time due to past comments about slapping women, opposition to the adoption of children by same-sex parents, and his support of the far right’s rise in France, Variety reported.
“It’s a bit of a posthumous tribute, but from my lifetime,” he said at the time. “I am going to leave, but I won’t leave without thanking you.”
In the past few years, his three surviving children had a very public battle over his care, accusing each other of mistreating their father. He also had a fourth child, Ari Boulogne, welcomed with Nico of the Velvet Underground, to whom he never acknowledged his paternity. Ari died in 2023.
Our thoughts are with Alain Delon‘s loved ones at this difficult time.
