FRENCH film icon Alain Delon has died at the age of 88.
The star was a legend in the golden era of French cinema – known for his roles in The Samurai and Borsalino.
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With striking blue eyes, the actor was referred to as the “French Frank Sinatra”.
His family said:”Alain Fabien, Anouchka, Anthony, as well as (his dog) Loubo, are deeply saddened to announce the passing of their father.
“He passed away peacefully in his home in Douchy, surrounded by his three children and his family.”
It is understood the film icon had been suffering poor health in recent years.
During his stellar career, which spanned over 30 years, Delon appeared in more than 90 films and earned himself the nickname “angel-faced”.
He is recognised for his hits in the 1960s including The Leopard and Rocco and his Brothers.
The Leopard won the Palme dOr – the highest honor at the Cannes Film Festival.
Delon is best known to English audiences for his portrayals of Georges Simenon’s Inspector Maigret – the fictional French detective.
Le Parisian newspaper called him “a legend of the cinema”, while Liberation described him as “a leading figure of cinema, symbol of shadowy masculinity, the actor with crazy charisma”.
Delon had recently made headlines after his children had a public spat over his care and cops also seized guns and ammo from his home. Prosecutors said he did not have a licence.
Born on November 8, 1935, in Sceaux, just south of Paris, Delon was placed with a foster family after his parents separation when he was 4.
He then attended a Roman Catholic boarding school.
At 17, Delon joined the navy and was sent to Indochina.
Back in France in 1956, he had odd jobs from waiter to a carrier in the Paris meat market before turning to acting.
Delon had a son, Anthony, in 1964, with his then-wife Nathalie Canovas, who played alongside him in Jean-Pierre Melvilles The Samurai in 1967.
He had two more children, Anouchka and Alain-Fabien, with Rosalie van Breemen.
He was widely believed to have been the father of Ari Boulogne – the son of German model and singer Nico, although he never publicly acknowledged it.
In a 1995 LExpress interview, he said: “I am very good at three things: my job, foolishness and children.”
Delon juggled various interests throughout his life – from setting up a stable of horses to developing cologne for men and women, followed by watches, glasses and other accessories.
He also collected paintings and sculptures.
Delon announced an end to his acting career in 1999 – but in the same year, he appeared in Bertrand Bliers Les Acteurs (The Actors).
Later he appeared in several television police shows.
In 2022 – in the last movie he made before his retirement – he starred with Juliette Binoche in The Empty House, directed by Patrice Leconte.
