Icon of Golden Era Cinema
The great light of French film’s golden age, Alain Delon, has died. Renowned for his tough-guy image, Delon enthralled viewers with his parts in classics such as Borsalino and The Samurai. Delon became a major public personable despite having lousy health in recent years and somewhat reclusive. The breakdown of his family also attracted a lot of media coverage in France.
Tributes from Across the Globe
Leading the honours was a close friend and fellow celebrity, Brigitte Bardot, who expressed great grief at Delon’s passing. “His death has left a huge void that nothing and no one will be able to fill,” she said. Once considered the most attractive man in movies, Delon appeared in several 1960s successes, including The Leopard and Rocco and His Brothers. He could captivate viewers as anything from a charming conman to a killer.
Adding to the chorus of supporters, French President Emmanuel Macron said Delon had “played legendary roles and made the world dream.” Macron said, on X—formerly Twitter— “Melancholy, popular, secretive, he was more than a star: he was a French monument.”
A Lasting Legacy
Delon received an honorary Palle d’Or at the Cannes Film Festival in May 2019, his last big public event. Saying, “It’s a bit of a posthumous tribute, but from my lifetime,” he said in an emotional parting statement during the event I am leaving, but I will not go without thanking you. Former Cannes festival president Gilles Jacob noted Delon was “a lion… an actor with a steely look,” while director of the Venice Film Festival Alberto Barbera called him an “icon who had risen “to the Olympus of the immortals.”
Complicated Personal Life
Delon’s personal life and job were also publicized. The French press, which reported his sexual excursions and scandals, trailed closely. His political ideas and associations prompted criticism, most notably, his backing of Jean-Marie Le Pen, head of the far-right National Front, known for his divisive position on the death sentence and same-sex marriage. Delon’s contacts with women also drew close attention and resulted in charges of sexism.
In recent years, there have been headlines about Delon’s family problems. With two separate women, the actor had three children: two boys and a daughter; his third son was unrecognized and now dead. His surviving children have been involved in public conflicts, including litigation and allegations. This includes disputes concerning his 2019 medical treatment following a stroke.
Legal and Personal Controversies
Still, another major problem was Delon’s former housekeeper, Hiromi Rollin. Rollin sued Delon’s children after being let go, claiming they withheld vital drugs, therefore endangering his life. Delon was also recently put under “reinforced curatorship,” which limits his capacity to handle his assets properly.
Claiming lack of a gun license, French police confiscated 72 weapons and 3,000 rounds of ammunition from Delon’s house in February. Also found in his Douchy-Montcorbon estate was a shooting range.
Reflections at Last
With Delon dead, French film marks the end of a period. Delon was “a monument of the cinema,” as the French press observed, and his influence on movies and culture is still felt today. His death creates a gap that reverberates across the movie business.
