France Pays Tribute to Film Legend Alain Delon Following His Death
France has paid homage to film legend Alain Delon, who passed away at the age of 88, with tributes pouring in for the actor who became one of his country’s biggest stars. Delon’s death was met with widespread mourning, with many fans and fellow actors expressing their condolences.
The actor’s three children, Anthony, Anouchka, and Alain-Fabien, had been squabbling over his medical treatment for months, but they spoke in a unified voice when announcing their father’s death. Now, they must manage the funeral of the screen icon, deciding whether to limit it to close family or extend it to the cinema world.
Delon dominated the front pages of France’s newspapers on Monday, with many featuring full-page portraits of the actor in his prime. “The Last Samurai” was the headline chosen by Le Figaro, a reference to one of his most famous roles as the enigmatic assassin in Jean-Pierre Melville’s 1967 thriller “Le Samourai”.
Delon’s performances in some of the greatest films of the 1960s and 70s were widely praised, with his charisma on screen impossible to ignore. He was one of the last living legends of a golden era for French cinema in the 1960s. Fellow 60s star Brigitte Bardot, 89, described Delon as leaving a “huge void that nothing, nobody, can fill”.
French President Emmanuel Macron called Delon a “French monument” who “played legendary roles and made the world dream”. His death was covered by newspapers around the world, with the New York Times, Washington Post, and New York Post all publishing lengthy obituaries.
Delon’s controversial views on women and politics also drew attention. His sons accused him of domestic violence, which he denied while admitting to slapping women during quarrels. He also drew criticism for supporting Jean-Marie Le Pen, co-founder of the far-right National Front, who was in favour of the death penalty and spoke against same-sex relationships.
Despite the controversy, Delon’s fans remained loyal, with many expressing their admiration for the actor. In Japan, a solid fanbase for Delon, many film buffs also mourned the death of the “handsome” actor from France. “My friends in their 70s and 80s are still all madly in love with him. Even at 88, he looked great,” said Delon fan Seta, 74.
Delon lived his later years largely as a recluse, though his personal life kept him in the headlines. In 2023, his three children filed a complaint against his live-in assistant Hiromi Rollin, accusing her of harassment and threatening behaviour. The siblings went on to wage a public battle in the media and the courts, arguing over his health, which worsened after a stroke in 2019.
Delon lived out his final years in the small village of Douchy, surrounded by high walls. Outside the entrance to his home, dozens of fans placed flowers to pay their respects. “In our minds we believe that these icons are eternal,” said Marie Arnold, laying white flowers with her sister Michele. “It’s a part of our youth that is gone.”
