The legendary French actor Alain Delon (“The Samurai”, “Rocco and his Brothers”, “Mr. Klein”), who was one of the most charismatic, mysterious and beautiful movie stars of all time, passed away yesterday (Sunday) at the age of 88. In a statement published by his family, it was stated that Delon “died Peacefully in his home in Doshi, surrounded by his three children and his family.”
Upon learning of his death, French President Emmanuel Macron paid tribute to him and wrote that Delon “played legendary roles and made the world dream. Melancholic, popular, full of secrets. He was more than a star: he was a French monument.” France’s Minister of Culture, Rashida Dati, added: “We believed he would live forever. His talent, charisma and aura destined him for a Hollywood career at a young age, but he chose France.”
Alain Delon in “Baborsolino Co.”, 1974, photo: Public Relations
Delon was born in the suburbs of Paris in 1935. He left school at the age of 14 and started working in a butcher’s shop, and after a short service in the French Navy he turned to acting. After the legendary Hollywood producer David O. Selznick noticed Delon at the Cannes Film Festival, he quickly signed him to a contract. But Delon preferred to try his luck in French cinema first.
He made his debut in 1957, in a small role in a forgotten thriller, but already in 1958 he starred alongside Romy Schneider in “Christine”, and became a sought-after actor and huge sex symbol. Delon opened the sixties with a storm with “In the Eyes of the Sun” (a French adaptation of “The Talent of Mr. Ripley”) and “Rocco and his Brothers”, by the Italian master Luchino Visconti – which established his status as one of the hottest (and most desirable) movie stars in the world.
His wild beauty and enigmatic and dark nature offered moviegoers a unique, attractive and “dangerous” mix, which was very different from the other masculinity models that were popular on the big screen at the time. Even when Delon played murderers and thieves, his charisma captivated the viewers. When the nickname “the most beautiful man in the world” was attached to him – no one raised an eyebrow.
From there, Delon continued a series of collaborations with great European directors, which made him a real legend. In 1962 he teamed up with Michelangelo Antonioni to make “Eclipse”, in 1963 he starred in Visconti’s “The Cheetahs”, and in 1967 he appeared as a beret assassin in Jean-Pierre Melville’s “The Samurai”, which was one of his roles The most iconic and popular. Although he tried his luck in Hollywood several times, Delon was never able to make it big there, and he always returned to his native France in the end.
Other great films in Delon’s illustrious filmography include Jacques Dere’s The Pond (1968), the masterful crime epics The Red Circle (1970) and Melville’s Night on the Town (1972), both gangster films “Borsellino” (1970), which united him with Jean-Paul Belmondo, the only French star at the time who could compete with him, and Joseph Lucey’s wonderful “Mr. Klein” (1976).
At the peak of his success, Delon also recorded the song “Farola, Farola”, a successful duet with the singer Delida, who was his partner at the time.
Alain Delon, photo: AFP
After about two decades in which he appeared frequently on the screen and in the gossip sections, in the 1980s Delon’s career began to gradually fade, and in 1997 he announced his retirement from acting. However, he still continued to appear in films and plays from time to time.
Delon’s last public appearance was in 2019, when he was awarded a Lifetime Achievement Award at the Cannes Film Festival. “I will not leave you without thanking you,” he said then from above the stage with considerable excitement.
In 2019, Delon suffered a double stroke, and decided to end his life through euthanasia – a legal process in Switzerland, the country where he lived. In 2022, he said goodbye to his many fans, and wrote: “I hope that the players of the future can see me as an example not only at work, but also in everyday life, between victories and defeats. Thank you, Alain Delon.”
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