Alain Delon, the celebrated actor of French and European cinema who also came under criticism for his controversial political views and treatment of women, died at the age of 88 – CNN.
The French actor, producer and writer had struggled with poor health in recent years and suffered a stroke in 2019, but he “passed away peacefully at his home in Douchy, surrounded by his three children and his family,” according to a statement from his family.
Delon would be remembered as an icon of French and European cinema, having worked with many famous directors. In 1957, he first appeared in films playing a hitman in the thriller “Quand la femme s’en mêle,” titled “Send a Woman When the Devil Fails” in English.
He went on to work with such celebrated directors as René Clément, Luchino Visconti and Jean-Pierre Melville. He appeared in many English-language productions, including the anthology movie “The Yellow Rolls-Royce” (1964) and Westerns “Texas Across the River” (1966), and “Red Sun” (1971), but he failed to replicate the success he enjoyed in European cinema.
In 1985, Delon won the César Award, the French equivalent of an Oscar, as best actor for his role as an alcoholic in Bertrand Blier’s Our Story. His star faded in recent years, but he reappeared on television at the turn of the century, playing seasoned detectives in two mini-series, “Fabio Montale” (2002) and “Frank Riva” (2003-04). But in 2005, Delon earned the title of Officer of the French Legion of Honour for his contribution to world cinema.
However, his brilliant career contrasted with the way he faced criticism for his controversial political views and attitudes towards women. In 1968, Delon found himself at the centre of a sex, drugs and murder scandal involving French high society, known as the Markovic affair. He received interrogations, but charges never filed.
Except, when Delon received the Palme d’Or at the 2019 Cannes Film Festival, women’s rights groups criticised the move, citing the actor’s past statements in which he admitted to slapping women. The petition asking not to honour him garnered over 25,000 signatures.
As Delon’s health deteriorated, his children became embroiled in a public dispute over their father’s health and care. Anthony and Alain-Fabienne accused Anoushka of hiding Delon’s health condition from them and manipulating the actor. This followed a trial in 2023 in which Delon’s children filed complaints against Hiromi Rollin, a close friend of the actor who posed as his partner, for violence, harassment and insults
