Alain Delon, Icon of the French New Wave, Dead at 88

As a cinephile who has spent countless hours immersed in the world of cinema, I can say that Alain Delon was a towering figure whose impact on French New Wave and beyond will continue to reverberate for generations to come. Born in 1935 and discovered by actress Brigitte Auber at the 1957 Cannes Film Festival, Delon’s journey from odd jobs in Paris to international stardom is nothing short of remarkable.


Legendary actor Alain Delon, renowned for his roles in “Le Samouraï,” “La Piscine,” and “The Leopard,” has passed away at the age of 88. Surrounded by his children and cherished pet Loubo, he took his final breath on Sunday as reported by France’s AFP news agency. As per CNN, Delon had been battling health issues since a stroke in 2019. In a poignant tribute, French President Emmanuel Macron described Delon as “more than a star: a French monument,” emphasizing his significant role in the French New Wave cinema movement.

1935 marked the birth of Delon, who later found himself working various roles in Paris following his service in the French navy. It was actress Brigitte Auber who recognized his potential, introducing him to prominent figures in international cinema at the 1957 Cannes Film Festival. At a masterclass in Cannes in 2019, he reminisced, “I arrived with a girl I adored, who cherished me. I attended the grand events, walked the red carpet, but even then, I felt at ease… This was not just because it was familiar to me, and I say this without vanity, since others had made it clear that I wasn’t unattractive.”

He got his first role, a bit part in Quand la femme s’en mêle, by having an affair with the director’s wife. From there, he started getting regular work — including Christine, on which he met Romy Schneider. The pair would stay in a relationship for 5 years, but stay creatively connected for years later. They were known in the French press as “les amants terribles” (the terrible lovers), for their tempestuous relationship. After breaking up, Delon and Schneider costarred in La Piscine in 1969. On that film, he met Mirelle Darc. They were together until 1982. Delon was also connected romantically with Lana Wood, Ann-Margret, Marisa Mell, and more. He had an affair with Nico in 1961. Nico had a son in 1962, Ari, but Delon never recognized paternity for the child. Ari was raised by Nico, then adopted by Delon’s mother.

In the later part of his life, Delon experienced a deep-seated conflict among his offspring regarding his care. Additionally, his controversial far-right political views, antisemitic sentiments, and treatment towards women drew significant criticism. Notably, when Delon received an honorary Palm d’Or in 2019, the French feminist organization Osez Le Feminisme expressed their disapproval to Variety, stating that by honoring Delon despite his admission of slapping women, Cannes was sending a harmful message to women and victims of violence.

Delon played deadly conman Tom Ripley in Plein Soleil, worked with Luchino Visconti on Rocco and his Brothers and The Leopard, and most fruitfully with Jean-Pierre Melville. Delon starred in Melville’s Le Samouraï, Le Cercle Rouge, and Un Flic before Melville died of a heart attack in 1973. In 1990, he finally worked with Jean-Luc Goddard on Nouvelle Vague, a metatextual history of film.

Read More

2024-08-19 02:53