Alain Fabien Maurice Marcel Delon (French:[alɛ̃dəlɔ̃]; 8 November 1935 – 18 August 2024) was a French actor, film producer, screenwriter, singer, and businessman. Acknowledged as a cultural and cinematicleading man of the 20th century, Delon emerged as one of the foremost European actors of the late 1950s to the 1980s, and became an internationalsex symbol.[1] He is regarded as one of the most well-known figures of theFrench cultural landscape.[2][3] His style, looks, androles, which made him an international icon, earned him enduring popularity.[4]
In addition to his acting career, Delon also recorded the spoken part in the popular 1973 song "Paroles, paroles", a duet withDalida as the main singing voice. He acquired Swiss citizenship in 1999.
Delon's maternal grandfather, Alfred Louis Arnold (1876–1959), was born in Paris and was a rider of the French army, gendarme. His parents were Just Arnold, born in 1847 inBürglen, Uri, a shoemaker by trade, and Marie-Adéle Lienemann, born in 1849, a cook. He married Maria Minard (1881–1913), a model forJeanne Lanvin. The couple had two children: a daughter, Édith Marie Suzanne Arnold, and a son, Henri Arnold.[7][6][8]
Alain Fabien Maurice Marcel Delon was born in a house located at 99 Houdan Street on 8 November 1935 inSceaux, a wealthy suburb ofParis in thedepartment of Seine (nowHauts-de-Seine). His father François Fabien Delon (Craponne-sur-Arzon, 12 March 1904 –Le Kremlin-Bicêtre, 17 September 1977), was a projectionist and later the director of the cinemaLe Régina inBourg-la-Reine, his mother Édith Marie Suzanne Arnold (19 April 1911 –Jouy-en-Josas, 20 June 1995), was an assistant employed in a pharmacy and a theater usher at the cinema where both his parents met, he was born into a petit-bourgeois family.[9]
Delon's parents divorced in 1939 when he was four years old .[10] Both of his parents remarried, as a result he had two half brothers and an adopted sister on his father's side, and two half siblings on his mother's side. He was then entrusted to a foster family called Nero, who lived on Rue de la Terasse. This would remain for him a childhood wound that never healed. The father of the family was a prison guard inFresnes Prison,Val-de-Marne. Delon, who lived next door, heard the salvo that executed the wartime collaboratorPierre Laval in the prison courtyard in 1945, the details of which he was told. While living with the foster family, Delon became passionate about bicycle racing and hoped to become a bicycle racer likeFausto Coppi.[11]
When his foster parents died in 1946, Delon was sent back to his birth parents, who took shared custody of him. Growing up, he spent time living with his father and his second family inL'Haÿ-les-Roses and with his mother and her second family in Bourg-la-Reine. However his parents not wanting to take care of him decided to place him in the Catholic boarding school of Saint-Nicolas d'Igny (Essonne), where he spent his entire youth with one of his best friends, Gérard Salomé. There he developed his passion for music; he joined the school choir and was chosen to sing as a soloist. He was congratulated on a performance by the Apostolic Nuncio to France Cardinal Angelo Roncalli, the laterPope John XXIII.[citation needed]
Due to the lack of attention from his parents, Delon became unruly, constantly misbehaving in the classroom and getting into fights with other children. He was expelled from the school after he beat up one of his classmates. The priests recommended he be sent to Saint Gabriel de Bagneaux. During his four years there, Delon constantly misbehaved and was disrespectful to his teachers. He then stole the director's motorcycle which resulted in him being expelled once more. Delon was expelled from a few more schools which wereJesuit,Benedictine,Franciscan and lay schools, until the age of 13, when he entered Saint Nicolas d'Igny Institute. There he had the opportunity to perform the role of a thug inLe Rapt, a 22-second silent short film directed by Olivier Bourguignon, a friend of his father. At age 14, Delon decided he did not want to stay in the school and wished to leave France. He decided to run away toChicago with his friend Daniel Salwadet who had an uncle living there. They left the school, determined to hitchhike toBordeaux. When they arrived inChâtellerault, a passerby took them to the local police station. Due to Delon's temper, he and his friend were put in jail and were sent back to their families. Because of his actions, Delon was expelled from the school. His parents then decided that studies were not for him and made Delon abandon them.[12]
His mother took him into her home and decided to make him join the business of her husband, Paul Boulogne, a butcher and delicatessen owner from Bourg-la-Reine. He later said he never really found a place in that family and never felt safe there. Delon took courses at the Au Jambon de Paris, while working part time as his stepfather's delicatessen where he would go the central markets in the morning to buy 40 kilograms of sausages. He eventually obtained a Certificate of Professional Aptitude (Certificat d'Aptitude Professionnelle or CAP) incharcuterie. For three years he worked at his stepfather's delicatessen, which had sixteen employees, he also worked at other delicatessens as well. His family had plans for him to take over the delicatessen in the future. However during those three years, Delon developed a very bad reputation in the community. He partied constantly, got into bar fights, and was at one point a member of a gang.[13]
Anticipating the call up formilitary service, he joined theFrench Navy at age 17. After a stint at thePont-Réan Maritime Training Centre, he continued his service in 1953 at the Bormette Signals School. After he was caught stealing equipment,[14] the Navy gave him a choice of leaving it or extending his commitment from three to five years.
As a first-class seaman, he was then assigned to the protection company of theSaigon arsenal, in what was stillFrench Indochina. Towards the end of theIndochina War, he was arrested for stealing a jeep and going on a trip during which the vehicle fell into a stream. His radio licence was revoked and he was given adishonorable discharge, from the Navy.[14] He celebrated his 20th birthday in a prison cell. This period made a deep impression on him: he discovered military discipline, a sense of honour and respect for the values represented by the flag of France. He developed a passion for weapons and was captivated by the performance of French actorJean Gabin inTouchez pas au grisbi, a film he saw in the Indochinese capital.[15]
After his naval service, Delon returned to France in 1956. He resented his parents for letting him go to Indochina (he was a volunteer but their permission was necessary) and did not get back in touch with them, deciding to fend for himself and having no idea what he would do for a living. His younger brother Jean-François Delon would later be the first in his family to reconnect with him in 1961 after he and his father saw Alain's name on aRocco and His Brothers poster. Delon settled in at the Regina Hotel and did a few odd jobs, including produce handler at the Paris market Les Halles and waiter in a café near theChamps-Élysées. He met the future singerDalida, with whom he would have an affair later in life. InPigalle andMontmartre, he met members of the French underworld, thugs and gigolos, one of whom, a homosexual named Carlos, ensured his protection. Delon was fascinated by the values of this environment, in particular the sense of honour, friendship, respect and the law of silence. He allowed himself to be housed and fed by several prostitutes. His future at that point seemed to be heading towards a career as apimp.[16][17]
Delon discovered the bustlingSaint-Germain-des-Prés district and at theClub Saint-Germain met the actressBrigitte Auber, who had recently acted for the directorAlfred Hitchcock inTo Catch a Thief. They lived together on rue du Pré-aux-Clercs, in the7th arrondissement of Paris, which distanced Alain Delon from the underworld and changed his career path. On the occasion of the 1957Cannes Film Festival, he went down with her to theCôte d'Azur and moved into the house she owned inSaint-Paul-de-Vence. It was during this festival that he became friends withJean-Claude Brialy and came into contact with the film industry, where he met his future agent George Beaume. He was "spotted" byHenry Willson, who was in charge of recruiting new talent on behalf of the American film producerDavid O. Selznick, who offered him a trial run in Rome. He thus entered the world of cinema without any particular training as an actor.[18][19]
In Rome, he lived withGian Paolo Barbieri, who would become a famous photographer.[20] In theCinecittà studios, on the sidelines of the filming ofCharles Vidor'sA Farewell to Arms, he underwent conclusive auditions andSelznick offered him a seven-year contract in the United States on the condition that he learn English. Delon returned to Paris and began to study English, but the actress Michèle Cordoue, whose lover he had become, convinced her husband, the directorYves Allégret, to hire him to shoot his first film,Quand la femme s'en mêle.[19] Delon initially rejected the offer from Allégret but eventually accepted, and Selznick allowed him to cancel the contract. he played a small role alongside the starEdwige Feuillère. Delon recounted: "I didn't know how to do anything. Allégret looked at me like that and he said: 'Listen to me, Alain. Speak as you speak to me. Look at how you look at me. Listen as you listen to me. Don't play, live.' It changed everything. If Yves Allégret hadn't told me that, I wouldn't have had this career."[21]
In 1958, he became a leading man when he was chosen by the German actressRomy Schneider, who had become a world celebrity following the success of theSissi film trilogy, to play her male partner inChristine byPierre Gaspard-Huit. The producers arranged an interview with the press atOrly airport in Paris on 10 April 1958: the two young actors met for the first time when Romy got off the plane. Their relationship was initially stormy: Schneider didn't speak French, Delon didn't speak German, and while she found him uninteresting and in bad taste, he found her unattractive. Filming began two months later and the two actors did not get along at all. However, they ended up falling in love and the "fiancés of Europe" celebrated their official engagement, organized by Romy's mother and stepfather inMorcote, Switzerland, on the shores ofLake Lugano, in front of the international press, without planning a date for a possible wedding. They embodied beauty, youth, success and became a couple celebrated by showbusiness and the public.[23]
Delon andMarie Laforêt during the shooting ofPurple Noon in Italy, August 1959 (speculatively colorized)
Delon was given the lead in the comedyWomen Are Weak (1959). This was a big hit in France[24] and was the first of Delon's films to be seen in America.
In a 1959 interview first aired on the French television programCinépanorama, conducted during the filming ofRocco and His Brothers, Alain Delon expressed his admiration forJean Marais, stating that he idolized the actor. "Everything is happening very quickly for you, you must be caught in a whirlwind, do you manage to find yourself?" He answered: "I try to not let myself be overwhelmed. To remain what I was before, to remain as simple. I took as a model an actor that I love and that isJean Marais, who always remained the same."[citation needed]
ProducerJacques Bar was making a heist film starringJean Gabin with backing fromMGM, titledAny Number Can Win (1963). Gabin's co-star was going to beJean-Louis Trintignant until Delon lobbied Bar for the role. He took the film's distribution rights in certain countries instead of a straight salary. Because such an arrangement had never previously been made in France, it became known as "Delon's method". Delon's gamble paid off handsomely, with Jean Gabin later claiming that Delon earned 10 times more money than he did as a result. However, in 1965, Delon claimed "no one else has tried it since and made money".[32]
The experience gave Delon a taste for producing. He signed a five-picture deal with MGM, of whichAny Number Can Win was the first. His reputation was further enhanced when he worked with Visconti again inIl Gattopardo (The Leopard) withBurt Lancaster andClaudia Cardinale. It was the seventh biggest hit of the year in France.Any Number Can Win was the sixth.[33]The Leopard was widely screened in the U.S. through20th Century Fox. Delon was now one of the most popular stars in France. He starred in a swashbuckler,The Black Tulip (1964), another hit.[34]
Les Félins (1964), which reunited him with Clement and co-starredJane Fonda, was filmed in French and English versions. The latter was distributed byMGM, but it was not a success.[35] In 1964, theCinémathèque Française held a showcase of Delon's films and Delon started a production company, Delbeau Production, with Georges Beaume. They produced a film calledThe Unvanquished (L'insoumis) in 1964, in which Delon played a terroristOAS assassin. It had to be re-edited because of legal issues. Despite being distributed by MGM, audiences were small. After finishing the film, Delon left the French cinema to pursue a career in Hollywood.[36]
Delon with his wife Nathalie (left) in Buenos Aires in 1965.
Typecast as a "Latin lover", Delon spent the next few years focused on Hollywood. In 1965 he said that he wanted to make a picture in America and one in Europe each year. He also said that his accent prevented him from playing certain roles: "Because of my accent, I would not attempt to play Americans. I am working on removing the distinctly French inflections from my speech so that I can play all continental nationalities."[32]
He made his debut in the British film industry starring in an all-star anthology forMGM titledThe Yellow Rolls-Royce (1964), oppositeShirley MacLaine. It was popular but Delon did not have a big role in the film. He made his Hollywood debut as the lead role in the filmOnce a Thief (1965), where he co-starred withAnn-Margret. It was based on a novel byZekial Marko who had writtenAny Number Can Win, but it was not as successful. It was financed byMGM, which announced Delon would appear in a Western to be titledReady for the Tiger and directed bySam Peckinpah, but the film was never made.[37]
Instead, Delon signed a three-picture deal withColumbia, for whom he appeared in the big budget action filmLost Command (1966), playing a member of the French Foreign Legion, alongsideAnthony Quinn andClaudia Cardinale. The movie performed modestly in the box office but it was not a huge success. The studio announced that he would appear in the biopicCervantes, but this was never made.[38]Universal Studios used Delon in a Western,Texas Across the River (1966), opposite Dean Martin.Ray Stark wanted to use him inThe Night of the Iguana andThis Property Is Condemned.[39][40] He did not appear in either film but acted in that producer'sIs Paris Burning? (1966), directed by René Clément, playingJacques Chaban-Delmas. This was a massive hit in France but performed disappointingly at the US box office – as did all of Delon's Hollywood-financed films.[41] Delon remained a massive star in France, along withSteve McQueen andSean Connery, and was one of the biggest foreign stars in Japan.[42] However, he could not make headway in the US market.[41]
After one British movie and four Hollywood movies Delon returned to France to rejoin the French cinema. He starred in the filmThe Last Adventure oppositeLino Ventura. It was one of Delon's most popular films of the 1960s but was not popular in North America. He was meant to work again with Visconti inThe Stranger but this did not happen.[43] Instead, he appeared on the Paris stage inLes Yeux Crevés and starred in the neo-noir crime thrillerLe Samouraï ('The Samurai') withNathalie Delon, directed byJean-Pierre Melville, which became another film classic.[44] He played an amnesiac inDiabolically Yours (1968) forJulien Duvivier.[45]
He had a role in another all-staranthologySpirits of the Dead (1968). His segment was directed byLouis Malle, and co-starredBrigitte Bardot. Delon had another attempt at English-language cinema withThe Girl on a Motorcycle (1968) withMarianne Faithfull, for directorJack Cardiff. It was a surprise hit in Britain and was the sixth most popular movie in the box office, however it did not do well in France.[45]The Girl on a Motorcycle, which was released in United States asNaked Under Leather, would be the first film to receive anX rating in theUnited States.[46] Far more popular at the French box office wasFarewell Friend (Adieu l'ami), in which Delon andCharles Bronson played formerforeign legionnaires who get involved in a heist. The film helped turn Charles Bronson into a genuine star in Europe.[47][48]
The filmLa Piscine (1969) reunited the 1960scouple mythique ('mythical couple') Alain Delon andRomy Schneider.[49] This was thought to be one of the reasons for its success.[50] Schneider had dramatically broken up with Delon, who married Nathalie Delon, a couple years earlier and married German director and actorHarry Meyen in Berlin.[50] She had a child. Delon asked the filmmaker to book her for this role. He continuously pursued her, both before and after filming "La Piscine", with persistent attempts to reconcile.[51] Despite Romy Schneider's refusals, their shared history and emotional connection spilled onto the screen, infusing the film with raw authenticity.[50][51]
While making the 1969 thrillerLa Piscine (The Swimming Pool)[52] with Romy Schneider, the body of Delon's Yugoslav secretary and bodyguardStefan Marković,[53] apparently murdered, was found in a rubbish dump near Paris. The police investigation revealed claims of unlawful parties involving celebrities such as Delon and members of the French government, including future presidentGeorges Pompidou, whose wifeClaude was allegedly the subject of a series of compromising photos at one such party. Corsican crime bossFrançois Marcantoni, a friend of Delon, was suspected of involvement in the murder. The affair gained notoriety throughout France and in the French press as the "Marković affair". In a 1969BBC interview, Delon was questioned about his alleged involvement in the death of Marković, rumors of his involvement in the unlawful parties, and Delon's own sexual preferences.
Reporter: People, once more, don't say it straight to your face but they suggest very very strongly that you have homosexual tastes?Delon: So what's wrong if I had? Or I did? Would I be guilty of something? If I like it I'll do it. We have a great actor in France named Michel Simon, and Michel Simon said once, "If you like your goat, make love with your goat." But the only matter is to love.[54]
Delon then starred in a series of gangster films. The first wasJeff (1969), made by his own production company, Adel. InThe Sicilian Clan (1969) Delon collaborated withLino Ventura andJean Gabin, and the film was a blockbuster. Even more popular in Europe wasBorsalino (1970), which Delon produced and in which he co-starred oppositeJean-Paul Belmondo. Neither of these films was successful in the US, as Delon had hoped.[55] Neither wasThe Red Circle (1970), despite Delon co-starring in it withYves Montand. For a change of pace, he produced a romantic drama,The Love Mates (1971), which was not successful. Neither was the 1971 comedyEasy, Down There!.[56]
In 1973, he recorded a duet withDalida, "Paroles, paroles", that went on to become one of the most recognizable French songs. He tried again for Hollywood stardom withScorpio (1973), with Burt Lancaster for director Michael Winner. It was only a minor hit. In France, he madeThe Burned Barns (1973) andCreezy (1974). He producedTwo Men in Town (1974) which re-teamed him with Jean Gabin, andBorsalino & Co. (1974), a sequel to his earlier hit.
After another gangster thriller,Icy Breasts (1974), Delon returned to his first swashbuckler sinceThe Black Tulip, playing the title character in the 1975 Italian-French filmZorro. He made some more crime filmes:The Gypsy (1975),Flic Story (1975) (with Jean Louis Triginant),Boomerang (1976) andArmaguedon (1976). In 1976, Delon starred inMonsieur Klein, for which he was nominated for the César Award.[57]
Delon in 1972
It was back to crime for another series of thrillers in which he starred as well as produced:Man in a Hurry (1977),[58]Death of a Corrupt Man (1977),[59]Le Gang (1977),[60] andAttention, The Kids Are Watching (1978).[61] In 1979, Delon stated that only a quarter of his business activities involved films, that he also had "a helicopter business, built furniture, promoted prize fights, and raced horses", and that he was still interested in becoming a star in America.[62]
In 1979 he made a final attempt at Hollywood stardom, signing with agentSue Mengers and starring inThe Concorde... Airport '79 (1979).[63] The film was not a big success. Delon returned to acting in French films, playing in and producingThe Medic (1979) andThree Men to Kill (1980).
Delon acquired Swiss citizenship in 1999,[64] and the company managing products sold under his name is based in Geneva. He resided inChêne-Bougeries in thecanton of Geneva.
In 2001, Delon starred in the French television dramaFabio Montale. He played an ageing policeman dressed in stylish clothes, a "signature Delon" role for audiences. The show was a big hit. In 2003, Delon tried to recreate the success ofFabio Montale and produced and starred in another French television police drama,Frank Riva. It did well but less so thanFabio Montale.
He directed a TV movie in 2008, co-starringAnouk Aimée, titledLove Letters based on a play by A.R. Gurney. In 2018, after a seven-year hiatus from cinema, Delon had planned to star in a new movie, titledLa Maison Vide, co-starring Juliette Binoche and directed by Patrice Leconte. However, in November 2018 the French media announced that the project had been canceled. No specific reason was given for the cancellation.[65] Among his last roles were in the 2011 television movieUne journée ordinaire, and in the 2012 Russian productionS Novym godom, Mamy! in which he starred as himself. He again appeared as himself in the 2019 movieToute Resemblance as a guest on a talkshow.[66]
In April 2019, at 83, Delon released a new single, "Je n'aime que toi", composed byRick Allison and Julia Paris. In 1973, Delon had scored a huge international hit duetting with Egyptian-French singerDalida on the song "Paroles, paroles". He also collaborated withShirley Bassey in 1983 on the international hit song "Thought I'd Ring You".[67][68]
At the2019 Cannes Film Festival, Delon received an honoraryPalme d'Or for his long-standing career in movies. A retrospective of some of his films was shown at the festival. However, there was much controversy surrounding Delon receiving this award due to remarks he had allegedly made about the treatment of women during his career and in his private life.Thierry Frémaux, the artistic director of the festival, addressed the controversy during a homage at the ceremony, stating, "We know that intolerance is back. We're being asked to believe that if we all think the same, it will protect us from the risk of being disliked or being wrong. But Alain Delon is not afraid of being wrong, being disliked, and he doesn't think like others, and he's not afraid of being alone." Delon responded emotionally, saying, "For me, it's more than the end of a career. It's the end of a life. It feels as though I'm receiving a posthumous tribute while being alive." He received the award from his daughter, Anouchka Delon.[69][70][71][72][73][74]
In a July 2021 interview onTV5Monde, his first since having two strokes, Delon said that he planned to act in one more film.[75][76] Also on TV5Monde, Delon interviewed UkrainianPresident Zelensky in September 2022 as part of a special programme on the war inUkraine,Face à Zelensky. Delon expressed his support for the Ukrainian people during the interview.[77][78]
In the 1970s, Delon expanded his commercial interests, buying harness racing trotters and promoting boxing matches.[79] He began working as a professional boxing promoter having been introduced byNino Cerruti to world middleweight championCarlos Monzón. The largest fight he promoted wasMonzón's defense againstJosé Napoles.[80]
He helped develop and promote a variety of products sold under his name including wristwatches, clothing, eyewear, perfume, stationery, and cigarettes.[81][82] Delon's brand of sunglasses became particularly popular in Hong Kong after actorChow Yun-fat wore them in the 1986 crime filmA Better Tomorrow, as well as two sequels. Delon reportedly wrote a letter thanking Chow for helping to promote and sell the sunglasses in Hong Kong and China.[83] The film'a directorJohn Woo has acknowledged Delon as one of his idols and wrote a short essay onLe Samourai as well asLe Cercle Rouge for theCriterion Collection DVD releases.[84] In 2009 and 2015,Christian Dior used images of the young Alain Delon and excerpts of his 1960s filmsThe Swimming Pool andThe Last Adventure respectively in theEau Sauvage cologne advertising campaigns.[85]
On 1 October 1968, the body of Stefan Marković, Delon's bodyguard, was found in a public dump inÉlancourt, Yvelines, a village on the western outskirts of Paris.[86][87] Delon andFrançois Marcantoni, a Corsican gangster, came under investigation, partly because of a letter from Marković to his brother Aleksandar, in which he had written: "If I get killed, it's 100% the fault of Alain Delon and his godfather François Marcantoni."[88] Following some articles in the press and testimony by Boriboj Akov, the investigation involved the former prime minister (and future president) of France,Georges Pompidou,[89] who testified that he and his wife, Claude Jacqueline Pompidou, had been present at certain parties with Marković and Delon.
On 5 July 2023, Delon's three children filed a complaint against his companion, Hiromi Rollin, alleging psychological harassment, interception of correspondence, animal cruelty, intentional violence, unlawful confinement, and abuse of weakness.[90][91] According to Anthony Delon, his father requested in writing that Mrs. Rollin leave the residence in Douchy-Montcorbon. An investigation was opened on 6 July. On 7 July, Yassine Bouzrou, lawyer for Hiromi Rollin, stated that she disputed "the entirety of the facts".[92][93] Bouzrou added that she would file a complaint against members of the Delon family and their bodyguards for aggravated voluntary violence suffered by Rollin on 5 July 2023.[94][95] The prosecutor of Montargis dismissed the two complaints filed by the three Delon children against Rollin due to insufficiently characterized offenses, and Rollin's complaint was dismissed for the same reasons.[citation needed]
On 4 January 2024, Alain Delon filed a complaint against his son Anthony following an interview granted by the latter toParis Match magazine.[96][97]Anthony Delon discussed his father's fragile health and accused his half-sisterAnouchka of manipulating their father regarding the inheritance.[98] In this interview, the eldest revealed that his father was "weakened" and that he "can't bear to see himself like this, diminished". Subsequently, Anthony Delon filed a police report against Anouchka, accusing her of not informing the family about the negative results of five cognitive tests conducted by their father between 2019 and 2022, after he suffered a severe stroke in 2019.[99] Anouchka Delon, on the other hand, accused her brothers of endangering their father's life and claimed to have wanted to take their father to Switzerland so he could continue to be treated there. She then announced plans to sue for defamation, false accusations, threats, and harassment against Anthony Delon.[100] Furthermore, Alain Delon's lawyer asserted that his client "cannot bear the aggressiveness of his son Anthony, who keeps telling him that he is senile". On 29 March 2024, Anouchka Delon sued her brothers for invasion of privacy after the broadcast of a recording in January 2024 on Instagram of a conversation between her and her father.[101] Anthony and Alain-Fabien will thus be judged for "use, retention, or disclosure of a document or recording obtained by an invasion of another's privacy". The trial date is set for April 2025. Physically weakened by cancer, Delon was placed under reinforced guardianship by judicial decision in April 2024, following a hearing at the Montargis court, in the presence of the actor's three children.[102] This measure follows a period during which Delon had already been placed under guardianship since 25 January, and notably granted the curator appointed by the judge the power to manage his expenses.[103]
On 26 February 2024, police raided Delon's home where they seized 72 firearms and 3,000 rounds of ammunition. A court-appointed official had been sent to the home of Delon, who was not authorised to own a firearm, and alerted a judge after noticing a weapon in the residence.[104][105]
On 20 March 1959, Delon became engaged to actressRomy Schneider, whom he met when they co-starred in the filmChristine (1958).[106] After their first film together, the couple became iconic.[107] Schneider, already a highly acclaimed star, and Delon, a rising talent, were affectionately nicknamed "les amants magnifiques" (the magnificent lovers), "les fiancés éternels" (eternal fiancés), and "les amants terribles" (the terrible lovers) due to their passionate and tumultuous relationship,[107] which was the subject of intense media scrutiny, with paparazzi relentlessly pursuing them.[108] Schneider's family remained opposed to their union, adding further complexities to their romance.[108][109] In 1964, Delon and Schneider ended their relationship.[110] Following the breakup, and during the early period of his marriage, Delon made attempts to resume his relationship with Schneider, efforts which continued over the following years.[51] Their love story continued to captivate audiences and cemented their status as one of the most beautiful couples in cinema history.[111] In 2009, Delon admitted his regret at not marrying Schneider,[112] and In 2018 he referred to her as the love of his life.[113]
In 1963, Delon met the young divorcée Francine Canovas (birth name),[114] a model known professionally as Nathalie Barthélémy.[114][115] He was also involved in an affair withMarisa Mell both before and after publicly announcing his engagement to Barthélemy during a press conference.[116] This liaison continued even after his marriage in 1964 and persisted into 1965. On 13 August 1964, he married Barthélemy due to her pregnancy, and thereafter she took the nameNathalie Delon.[107] Their son,Anthony Delon, her second child, was born on 30 September 1964. Nathalie later revealed that Delon's love for Romy Schneider remained a constant presence in their relationship, with Delon often displaying a deep sadness indicative that his heart still belonged to Schneider.[117] In 1964-1965, Delon's relationships also included affairs withAnn-Margret andLana Wood.[118][119] In October 1964, Delon metRatna Sari Dewi, at the Tokyo Olympics, and the two began a relationship.[120] They remained close in the following years, including a meeting in Paris in 1967.[120] In 1967, Delon filed for divorce.[121] The couple divorced on 14 February 1969.[122]
In August 1968, during the shooting of the filmJeff (1969), Delon met the French actressMireille Darc and asked her to appear with him in a movie. They started a relationship that lasted until 1982. He later had short relationships with the actressesAnne Parillaud, as well as Catherine Bleynie, the ex-wife of Didier Pironi.
In 1987, Delon met the Dutch modelRosalie van Breemen [nl] on the set of the music video for his song "Comme au cinéma" and started a relationship. They had two children:Anouchka Delon (25 November 1990) andAlain-Fabien Delon (18 March 1994).[123][124] The relationship ended in 2001.
During an interview in 2013, Delon expressed sympathy for the French far-rightNational Front's electoral successes, saying: "The National Front, like theMCG [Geneva Citizens' Movement] in Geneva, is very important... I encourage it and I perfectly understand it." However, in another interview in 2018, he denied having ever voted for Marine Le Pen.[133]
Delon was good friends with theArgentine world champion boxerCarlos Monzón, even visiting Monzon during his stint in prison.[134][135]
Delon suffered astroke in June 2019. He was admitted to hospital after experiencing dizziness and headaches. In August 2019, he was recovering in a Swiss hospital.[138] In September 2022, he began experimental treatment for a slow-progressinglymphoma. In the summer of 2023, Delon's three children made the decision to stop this treatment because it was weakening him.[139]
In a 2021 interview withParis Match, Delon expressed support foreuthanasia, calling it "the most logical and natural thing".[140] In 2022, Delon's sonAnthony revealed in his autobiographyEntre chien et loup that, following the death of his (Anthony's) motherNathalie Delon, Alain said he wanted to be removed from life support if he were to succumb to a coma, and had asked Anthony to fulfill his request if such a circumstance arose.[141][142] Shortly thereafter, some news organizations reported that Delon was planning to imminently end his life through euthanasia, but the reports were adamantly denied by his son, Alain-Fabien, who said that quotes from Anthony Delon's book had been taken out of context.[143][144]
In January 2024, Delon was reported to be in poor health and living a reclusive lifestyle at his La Brûlerie estate inDouchy. At the same time,a public feud concerning Delon's health arose between three of his children – Anthony, Anouchka and Alain-Fabien – all of whom acknowledge Delon was "ailing but lucid and aware of the feud". The rift began when Anthony publicly accused Anouchka, his half-sister, of "lying" and "manipulation" for concealing the results of cognitive tests Swiss doctors had performed on their father. The children, however, united in mid-2023 to successfully evict Delon's former companion Hiromi Rollin, whom they accused of abusing their father.[145][146][147]
Delon died on 18 August 2024 at his home in Douchy, surrounded by family members, at the age of 88.[148][149][150] He had been diagnosed withB-cell lymphoma earlier in the year.[151][152][153] Before his death, Delon requested that hisBelgian Shepherd named Loubo be euthanized and buried alongside him, although Delon's family elected to not euthanize the dog.[154][155]
The next day, Alain Delon's death made headlines worldwide and garnered significant media attention.[184][185][186][187][188][189][190][191][192] Foreign press referred to him as "the last great myth of French Cinema."[193]The New York Times stated that "the intense and intensely beautiful French actor played cold Corsican gangsters as convincingly as passionate Italian lovers."[194]The Guardian praised Alain Delon, calling him "a symbol of the lost beauty of the 1960s."[195] According to theJapan Times, "his idol image and James Dean-like persona made him one of the most acclaimed actors in his country."[196] The seriesPlus belle la vie paid tribute to him in episode 153 on 22 August 2024, referencing the police seriesFabio Montale, filmed inMarseille.[197]
Having declined any national tribute and ceremony,[198] Alain Delon was buried on 24 August 2024, in a private chapel on the Brûlerie estate inDouchy, as he wished, near his thirty-five dogs.[199][200] About fifty guests attended the funeral, including the actor's three children.[201][202] The ceremony was officiated by Catholic bishopJean-Michel Di Falco.[203]
In Brazil, the Varilux French Cinema Festival, the largest French film festival outside of France, also pays tribute to him by screeningPlein Soleil and featuring him on the official poster for its 2024 edition.[208][209][210] The French Film Festival in Cuba organized a tribute to Alain Delon during its 25th edition, screening many of the actor's films in theaters inHavana.[211][212][213]
In Asia, from December 16, 2024, to January 16, 2025, the retrospectiveRemember Alain Delon inHanoi, Vietnam, showcases three of his iconic films on the continent:Red Sun,The Red Circle, andPlein Soleil.[214] InTokyo, the Institut Français du Japon organizes a retrospective titledProof of a Star's Existence, featuring screenings of his major works, conferences, and discussions led by film specialists.[215] The 40th edition of the French Film Festival inSingapore pays homage to Delon with screenings ofLe Samouraï andPlein Soleil.[216]
In Europe, the Ciné Lumière at theInstitut français du Royaume-Uni dedicate retrospectives to the actor.[217] In his honor, the French Embassy and the Institut Français of Bulgaria organize screenings ofRocco and His Brothers in the country's three largest cities.[218]
In October 2024, theParis Council voted on a proposal to name a street or facility in the capital in honor of Alain Delon, which included the installation of a plaque in his name on the Normandie building on theChamps-Élysées (8th arrondissement).[227][228]
Delon featured inIn Memoriam segments of2025 BAFTA andSAG Awards ceremonies.[229] However, the French actor is absent from the tribute paid at the2025 Oscars, an omission that is causing incomprehension in France and internationally.[230][231][232][233][234][235] At the opening of the50th César Awards, a tribute was paid to Alain Delon with a sequence retracing the actor's career.[236]
Alain Delon is one of the best-known French actors abroad, alongsideGérard Depardieu,Jean Reno,Catherine Deneuve, andAudrey Tautou.[237]Jean-Michel Frodon, a film critic and historian, points out that in post-war French cinema, Delon is a unique figure, whose energy and intelligence on screen were superbly exploited by filmmakers such as Jean-Pierre Melville.[238] According toNick Rees-Roberts and Darren Waldron, "Few male European actors have been as iconic and influential for generations of filmgoers as Alain Delon." They consider his status as a cinema icon and the longevity of his career as making a scholarly inquiry into his image and persona necessary.[239] LaCinetek andThe Criterion Collection have unveiled several lists wherein various professionals in the field recommend and/or specify their favorite films. Several of the productions in which Delon plays the leading role are cited.[240]
Leonardo DiCaprio regards Alain Delon as one of the "coolest actors in the history of cinema".[253] TheCanadian actorKeanu Reeves asserts that Delon is his role model as an actor: "He's such a charismatic actor. I think he has something in him between tension and melancholy."[254] British directorMatthew Vaughn compares actorMichael Caine to Alain Delon, suggesting the unique cinematic influence of these two actors in their respective countries.[255] British actorClive Owen says he is fascinated by Alain Delon's "natural grace", consideringLe Samouraï andLa Piscine among his favorite films.[256]Joseph Losey, an American director, expressed his admiration for Alain Delon, saying, "Alain is one of those rare talents who can be honored as being difficult. To me, this word means professionalism, demand, dedication to work, warmth, and love. He's not a man to play with, but a man you can rely on."[257] American producerRobert Evans paid tribute to Delon in his memoirsThe Kid Stays in the Picture –Hyperion Books, 1994, considering him as his "brother in life as in cinema" and "the most beautiful actor in Europe".
Alain Delon's interpretations have influenced many colleagues, both in France and internationally, especially thanks to his role inLe Samouraï (The Samurai), often cited as one of the most influential films in history.[258] DirectorJean-Pierre Melville wrote the film for Alain Delon and describes the genesis of this film:
Suddenly, [Delon] looked at his watch and stopped me: "You've been reading the script for seven-and-a-half minutes and there hasn't been a word of dialogue … that's good enough for me. I'll do the film. What's the title?"Le samouraï I told him … and he then led me to his bedroom: all it contained was a leather couch and a samurai lance, his sword and dagger.[259]
DirectorBertrand Blier speculates that the meeting between Alain Delon and the filmmakerJean-Pierre Melville, "historic, charged with a mutual fascination", was at the origin of the success of this classic: "The Samurai was a completely bizarre film. There has only been one film made like this in France. And it's so much like Delon, this film: a mute, completely narcissistic role, where practically nothing happens. Delon sits in front of a mirror for an hour correcting the position of his hat! It had a lot of charm, it was a fascinating film. It was an extraordinary analysis of these two men, a formidable joint portrait of Melville / Delon".[260]
Stephen Teo callsLe Samouraï "possibly the most influential French crime thriller ever made, a mixture of a police procedural (le film policier) and a suspenseful action thriller concentrated on a professional hit man, Jef (spelled with one "f") Costello, played by Alain Delon, giving the definitive performance of his career".[261]
Alain Delon is cited as one of the most beautiful actors in the history of cinema.[273][274][275] His on-screen presence and physical appearance have earned him the status of an "icon" and a "legend" of cinema, both in France and internationally.[276][277][278] His fame, linked as much to his looks as to his acting, has inspired and continues to influence many international actors.[279][280]
Only a few films draw more inspiration from Delon's distinctive style and personality rather than his acting performance.[281]
The German filmLiebe ist kälter als der Tod pays tribute to French cinema masters such asClaude Chabrol andÉric Rohmer. Furthermore, the directing style is inspired by Melville'sLe Samouraï, while the artwork on the poster resembles the silhouette of Alain Delon inLe Samouraï.[282] The character Bruno (Ulli Lommel) is also inspired by the character portrayed by Delon.[283]
The influence of French cinema on Italian cinema is significant, particularly in the neo-noir orpoliziottesco genre. This cinematic movement found in Alain Delon a representative figure of the cold, methodical hitman.[284][285][286] The character of Jef Costello, portrayed by Delon inLe Samouraï (1967), had a major impact onFernando Di Leo and hisMilieu Trilogy (Caliber 9,The Italian Connection,Il Boss).
Luc Besson drew inspiration from Jef Costello (played by Delon inLe Samouraï) to create Léon, the titular character embodied by Jean Reno inLéon: The Professional.[287][288]
The protagonist ofBad Education (La mala educación), played byGael García Bernal, was inspired by Patricia Highsmith's Tom Ripley, as portrayed by Alain Delon in René Clément'sPurple Noon (Plein Soleil).[289] He stated that the performance he most sought to emulate was Delon's interpretation of Ripley inPurple Noon.[290]
InThe Skin I Live In (La piel que habito), Pedro Almodóvar instructedAntonio Banderas to draw inspiration from Alain Delon's performance inLe Cercle Rouge, aiming for a portrayal that was “icy, calculating, restrained, and economical.”[291][292]
Richard Ayoade citesThe Samurai as a major inspiration for his films. InSubmarine,Oliver Tate's character wears the same costume as Delon inThe Samurai and displays a poster of the film in his room, out of admiration for the character he plays.[293][294] Some scenes in the film are directly inspired by the French classic.[295]
Fabio Grassadonia and Antonio Piazza, inSalvo, sought to recreate the aura of French film noir and specifically drew inspiration from Delon for their protagonist.[297] Their choice ofSaleh Bakri to play Salvo, a Sicilian hitman, stemmed from this vision: “We wanted a strong physical presence that would dominate the screen with charisma, thinking of Jean-Pierre Melville, French film noir, and actors like Alain Delon.”[298][299]
The filmA Bigger Splash, directed byLuca Guadagnino, is a modern adaptation of the French thrillerLa Piscine byJacques Deray. A loose adaptation of the French film, Guadagnino has soaked up the atmosphere and erotic tension that Delon and Romy Schneider represented in 1969.[300][301]Matthias Schoenaerts takes over the role played by Delon.
InA Whale byPablo Hernando, the main character, played byIngrid García-Jonsson (a hitwoman), is inspired by Jef Costello.[304] The director confirms this influence: "I understand the comparisons, but I didn't mix references. The only one I used was the archetype of Alain Delon's lone hitman (...)."[305] Additionally, the name of the main antagonist, Melville, is a tribute to Jean-Pierre Melville, the director ofLe Samouraï.[306]
Saul Nanni takes over the role of Tancredi Falconeri in the seriesThe Leopard, previously played by Alain Delon in 1963.[307] The actor says he is honored to play such an "iconic" character and to be able to follow in the footsteps of an actor as "incredible" as Delon, without being afraid of being confronted with this "icon".[308][309] To prepare for the role of Tancredi, he rereadGiuseppe Tomasi di Lampedusa's novel and rewatched Visconti's film, trying to understand the twists and turns of the family and social dynamics of the Sicilian aristocracy of the 1860s.[310]
The overall atmosphere, character development, and narrative style of the American filmThe French Connection are largely influenced byLe Samouraï (1967) by Jean-Pierre Melville.William Friedkin also drew inspiration from the character played by Alain Delon—a solitary and methodical hitman—to shape the character ofPopeye Doyle (Gene Hackman).[311] Moreover, the subway chase scene inThe French Connection is directly inspired byBullitt andLe Samouraï.[312]
Through his portrayal of Jef Costello, Alain Delon established the archetype of the "silent and stoic antihero."Ryan O'Neal's character inThe Driver is almost entirely based on Jef Costello.[313][314]The Driver is also considered an unofficial adaptation ofLe Samouraï.[315]
InRocco and His Brothers, Delon plays the character ofRocco Parondi, a tormented young man, a street wrestler who has become famous and has a tumultuous career in an Italian family in the 1940s. The film influenced a number of filmmakers, includingMartin Scorsese,[316] who closely studied Visconti's directing, especially the way the fight scenes are filmed, a technique he later integrated into hisRaging Bull. In addition, Scorsese was inspired for this same film by the character of Rocco (Delon) to help shapeRobert De Niro's interpretation ofJake LaMotta.[317][318][319] Scorsese also noted that Jef Costello, played by Delon inLe Samouraï, served as an inspiration for the creation ofTravis Bickle, the protagonist ofTaxi Driver (a role that was offered to Alain Delon).[320][321]
While filmingAmerican Gigolo, screenwriter and directorPaul Schrader hadRichard Gere watch several films starring Delon to draw inspiration from his performance:“I screenedPurple Noonfor Richard Gere before American Gigolo.I said: ‘Watch this guy [Alain Delon]. The way he walks. He knows the room is a better place just because he's walked into it.’”[322] Richard Gere also cites the French actor as a source of inspiration:“It was by watching Alain Delon's films that I learned how to play seducers on screen. Alain Delon truly inspired me to portray that kind of character.”[323][324]
Le Samouraï is one ofQuentin Tarantino's favorite films.[325][326][327] In a 1992 interview, Tarantino said he liked the titleReservoir Dogs because“it sounds like it's from an Alain Delon film by Jean-Pierre Melville... I could picture Alain Delon in a black suit saying: ‘I'm Mr. Blonde.’”[328] The French classic influenced his creation of the world ofReservoir Dogs andPulp Fiction. In this regard, the costume design forReservoir Dogs andPulp Fiction stemmed from a discussion between Tarantino and costume designerBetsy Heimann about French noir films featuring Alain Delon.[329][330][328][327]
Michael Mann, forHeat (just like forCollateral), creates the character of Neil McCauley, played byRobert De Niro, drawing inspiration from the minimalist and detached style of Delon inLe Samouraï and the various protagonists Melville portrays inLe Cercle Rouge.[331] The line "I am alone, not lonely" from McCauley (De Niro inHeat) directly echoes the one from Jeff Costello (Delon inLe Samouraï) : "I never lose, never really".[332]
Forest Whitaker also drew inspiration from Delon's role as Jef Costello inLe Samouraï for his performance inGhost Dog: The Way of the Samurai byJim Jarmusch : “As part of my preparation, I watched this masterpiece with Alain Delon. Thanks to him, I understood the virtue of silence.”[333][334][335] The film's ending openly pays homage toLe Samouraï, as both Alain Delon and Ghost Dog carry an unloaded firearm in a scenario where they are fully aware of their impending fate.[336][337] Whitaker would later reprise a role originally played by Alain Delon inDeux Hommes dans la ville (Two Men in Town), adapting it to a contemporary setting.[338][339]
To prepare for his role as Vincent inCollateral,Tom Cruise stated that he “first watched several films about professional killers, including Le Samouraï by Jean-Pierre Melville with Alain Delon. I was [Tom Cruise]deeply fascinated by his solitary and melancholic charisma in carrying out his ruthless business.”[340] Cruise's appearance and demeanor in the film strongly recall Jef Costello fromLe Samouraï.[267]
Delon's influence also extends to films such asDrive byNicolas Winding Refn andBaby Driver byEdgar Wright.[345] Both directors drew inspiration fromLe Samouraï, crafting protagonists—played byRyan Gosling andAnsel Elgort, respectively—who are taciturn yet charismatic getaway drivers, reminiscent of Jef Costello.[346]Ryan Gosling has stated that his acting inDrive was influenced by Delon's performance inLe Samouraï .[347]
In developingThe Equalizer film franchise, directorAntoine Fuqua acknowledged that Delon influenced the character of Robert McCall, a solitary man with strong moral motivations who acts as a vigilante for those unable to defend themselves. Played byDenzel Washington, Fuqua explained: “My biggest inspirations were foreign films from the 1970s, really […]. And of course, all those Alain Delon films, particularly the French ones, like Le Samouraï (1967), with that kind of slow rhythm and character development as the story unfolds. That's the kind of film that inspires me.”[348]
Keanu Reeves, inJohn Wick: Chapter 4, plays a fearsome hitman but imbued with a certain emotional depth, imitating Alain Delon, whom Reeves has as a model.Chad Stahelski, the director behind theJohn Wick franchise, is also a great admirer of Alain Delon and Jean-Pierre Melville.[349][350][351] Stahelski drew inspiration fromLe Cercle Rouge andLe Samouraï when craftingJohn Wick : "The John Wick films are all love letters from Keanu, myself, our stunt team and our creative team to everyone from Wong Kar-wai to Sammo Hung to Sergio Leone, Kurosawa, Alain Delon and "The Samurai", Spielberg, Tarantino... To all those people we loved growing up."[350]
Jon Watts (director of theSpider-Man trilogy) cites Alain Delon among his influences, withThe Samurai which he considers a model of "lone wolf movies", inspiring the creation of the characters ofGeorge Clooney andBrad Pitt inWolfs.[355] In addition, the film begins in a fictionally deluxe suite namedDelon Hotel, an obvious nod to the French actor.[356]
Delon is indirectly responsible for the ongoing superhero franchise films which continue to this day. After seeing a poster for Delon's 1974 cinematic turn as Zorro while in Paris, Ilya Salkind was inspired to make 1978'sSuperman withChristopher Reeve, the film that started it all.[360]
FromSouth Korea toChina, numerous filmmakers have drawn inspiration from Alain Delon's career, particularly his portrayal of Jeff Costello inLe Samouraï (1967).[361][362]
John Woo choseChow Yun-fat for the role of Mark Lee inA Better Tomorrow (1986) because of his resemblance to Alain Delon.[363][364] In the film and its sequels, Chow also wore sunglasses that were marketed under Delon's name.[365] The sunglasses brand became especially popular inHong Kong, and Alain Delon personally thanked Chow Yun-fat for it.[365][366]
Chow Yun-Fat, inJohn Woo'sThe Killer, does not merely reprise Alain Delon's role inLe Samouraï; he embodies a character who dreams of being Alain Delon. Woo specifically asked Chow to take inspiration from Delon's acting, seeing him as the embodiment of French charm:“handsome, brooding, and dangerous.”[367]
Tony Leung, in his role as the undercover inspector inHard Boiled, adopts characteristics reminiscent of Delon'sLe Samouraï.[368] His character is even named after Alain Delon—he is called Alan.[369]
Johnnie To's films frequently pay homage to Delon's work, withFulltime Killer andVengeance serving as notable examples.[370][371] A great admirer of Melville and his filmsLe Cercle Rouge andLe Samouraï, To has often expressed his desire to work with Alain Delon. Although Delon ultimately declined the lead role inVengeance, To retained the character Francis Costello—his name a direct reference to Jeff Costello fromLe Samouraï.
Kim Jee-woon, director ofA Bittersweet Life, instructed lead actorLee Byung-hun to take inspiration from Delon's performances in Jean-Pierre Melville's films. The protagonist ofA Bittersweet Life, named "Jeff" after Costello, is a direct descendant of Jeff Costello, sharing the same traits as the betrayed, solitary assassin.[372][361][373]
South Korean actorJung Woo Sung also drew inspiration from Alain Delon's performance inLe Samouraï for his first criminal role inCold Eyes.[376]
Kazakh filmmaker Adilkhan Yerzhanov'sYellow Cat features a solitary character roaming the vast Kazakh steppes while donning the trench coat and fedora made iconic by Alain Delon inLe Samouraï.[377][378][379] The character sees himself as the guardian of a unique talent: the ability to imitate Alain Delon. He envisions himself as the French actor, fully embodying his cinematic persona.[361]
Rocco Siffredi chose his stage name in reference to the characters Roch Siffredi (Borsalino andBorsalino & Co) and Rocco Parondi (Rocco and his brothers), both played by Alain Delon.[380] Hong Kong actorTi Lung chose his stage name from a verbal derivation close to the name of his favorite actor Alain Delon.[381][382]
Ilaria Urbinati, stylist forRyan Reynolds,Bradley Cooper, andDonald Glover among others, counts Alain Delon as one of the style icons who inspire her: "Alain Delon, a young Pacino and a young DeNiro are my all-time style icons. And probably Paul Newman at all ages. They'll keep you right."[385]
PlaywrightAdrienne Kennedy was an admirer of Delon.[386] A mystery novella by Kennedy,Deadly Triplets featured a fictional version of Kennedy who has written a play titled,The Heart Of Alain Delon.[387]
During the four years Delon lived with Romy Schneider, he became a leading man in movie roles, and an international sex symbol.[388] According to media commentatorMark Gallagher, Delon's reputation ultimately may be as a worldwide style icon, rather than as an actor. He writes that Delon's on-screen sex appeal is well received in many cultural contexts, that it allowed him to transcend strictly French film and culture, and connected him to "international film culture and popular culture".[389]
Delon filming the abortedMarco Polo inBelgrade, 1962
Delon was offered roles in several iconic productions, thus illustrating the international recognition bestowed upon him.[390] For instance, he was invited bySam Spiegel (the film's producer) to portraySherif Ali inLawrence of Arabia.[391][392] Despite a successful audition, difficulties related to wearing brown contact lenses for the role led the French actor to decline the offer.Robert Evans also considered Alain Delon for the role ofMichael Corleone inThe Godfather, stating, "That's how he was described in the book."[393][394] Delon, however, refused the proposal : “I would have had to learn to speak English with an Italian accent. I didn't like that.”[395] Evans also wanted to cast Delon inThe Cotton Club to playLucky Luciano, a role that ultimately went toJoe Dallesandro.[396] Additionally, in 1979,Albert Broccoli, in charge of theJames Bond franchise, offered Delon the role of James Bond.[397] Delon refused. DirectorAndré Téchiné planned to bring Delon andIsabelle Adjani together on screen in a film adaptation ofPascal Bruckner's novelEvil Angels.[398] Disagreements between the two actors led to the project's cancellation, andRoman Polanski ultimately directedBitter Moon in 1992. In 1973, director and screenwriterAlejandro Jodorowsky embarked on the cinematic adaptation ofDune.[399] Jodorowsky assembled a prestigious artistic team, including rock bandsPink Floyd andMagma for the music. Jodorowsky also envisioned an ambitious cast: Salvador Dalí,Orson Welles, andMick Jagger among others. Alain Delon was slated to portray the character ofDuncan Idaho. However, anticipating a 14-hour film, the project was abandoned due to significant financial constraints (Dalí notably demanding $100,000 per hour).[400] Alain Delon was amongAnne Rice's top choices for the role of Louis, as depicted in her bookInterview with the Vampire, which was under discussion for a film adaptation.[401] However, the project didn't come to fruition until1994, withBrad Pitt ultimately taking on the role. Alain Delon was also slated to appear in the adaptation ofAndré Malraux's novelMan's Fate, alongsideJohnny Depp,Daniel Day-Lewis,Uma Thurman, andJohn Malkovich. This project, initiated byMichael Cimino, was abandoned due to financial difficulties.[402][403] In 2014, a film project titledPatient was announced, a drama centered on theArmenian genocide, with Delon orAdrien Brody in a leading role.[404][405][406]Dustin Hoffman was also set to star.[404] This project never materialized.
A still shot of Delon inThe Unvanquished appears on the cover of the 1986 albumThe Queen Is Dead byThe Smiths, which was used with his written approval.[420] The song "Beautiful Killer" onMadonna's twelfth studio albumMDNA is a tribute to Delon.[421] An early EP by the music groupWhite Town was the "Alain Delon EP".[422] The song "A Look From The Screen" by Russian bandNautilus Pompilius is a tribute to Delon.[423] In 2010,Emma Daumas paid tribute to Alain Delon in the songDans les yeux d'Alain Delon, on her E.P.Acoustic. Far from this chorus of praise,Marianne Faithfull, a friend of Nico's and who was Delon's partner in the cinema in the 1960s, mentions the actor on her albumKissin' Time. The Italian music groupBaustelle (La canzione di Alain Delon), the Bulgarian music groupShturtzite (Alen Delon),Christoff de Bolle (Ich hab Alain Delon gesehn), Erlend Krauser(Deneuve Meets Alain Delon in The Train), Davide Van De Sfroos (L'Alain Delon de Lenn), Dann Stuyven (Dîner Delon),Sıla Gençoğlu andOzan Doğulu (Alain Delon) andFemme Schmidt (Alain Delon) have all quoted and/or paid tribute to Alain Delon in their musical productions.[424]
InLa Boum byClaude Pinoteau, both Vic (Sophie Marceau) and Lysia (Nathalie Riqué) have feelings for Mathieu. Jealous of her rival, Vic describes her as“the daughter of Alain Delon and the Mona Lisa,” implying the extraordinary nature of her beauty.[425]
In the filmCamping, one of the campers (played by Frédéric Bonnet) is nicknamed Alain Delon and speaks in the third person.[428] In bothCamping andCamping 2, lines also reference Delon and his public persona.[429][430]
InAsterix at the Olympic Games, Alain Delon playsJulius Caesar and pokes fun at his own career with a self-referential monologue:“Caesar has succeeded at everything, conquered everything. He's a leopard, a samurai, he owes nothing to anyone—not to Rocco, nor his brothers, nor the Sicilian clan. Caesar is of noble blood. In fact, the Caesar for Best Emperor was awarded to Caesar. Ave me!”[431]
InOne Day, Dexter's mother (played byPatricia Clarkson) compares her husband to Alain Delon:“Is that Alain Delon? What? No. That's your father,” showing just how in love she is with him.[432][433]
Other humorous references to Alain Delon appear inLes Tuche, notably in a scene where Jeff Tuche (Jean-Paul Rouve) arrives at a luxury hotel in Monaco.[434][435][436] When the receptionist announces the Alain Delon suite, Jeff, confused, says:“Wait, I don't know Alain Delon, I don't want to disturb him.” To which the receptionist replies:“But he's not here.”[437]
In the first episode ofCobra, Delon appears through the features of the main character—dark-haired and brooding—who, in order to escape his enemies, undergoes plastic surgery that makes him look likeJean-Paul Belmondo.[438]
Alain Delon's appearance also inspired the character Freeman, the hero of the mangaCrying Freeman, written byKazuo Koike and illustrated byRyōichi Ikegami.[439] Ryoichi Ikegami confessed his love for the actor.[440]
The Italian comic stripPlaycolt (128 issues divided into four series from 1972 to 1979) features Alain Velon (Paronomase of the actor Alain Delon), a billionaire playboy with a Delonian physique who later transforms intoPlaycolt, a kind of superhero.[442][443]
Alain Delon's influence inLe Samouraï can also be felt in thecomic stripCorps et Âme by Jef andMatz.[445] InBody and Soul, the main character is Frank Kitchen, a fearsome and methodical hitman.[446] The resemblance to Costello (played by Delon inLe Samuraï) is reflected not only in the character's physical appearance, but also in his behavior and stoic attitude in the face of adversity. As inThe Samurai, where Delon's character is betrayed and must navigate a series of unforeseen challenges, Frank Kitchen finds himself in a new situation after an extreme revenge that transforms him physically.[447]
Lost Bullets, a comic book written byWalter Hill, features protagonist Roy Nash about a professional killer who has received a life sentence in theJoliet prison inIllinois.[448] Jef, the cartoonist, says that he chose to be inspired by the French actor to create Roy Nash's appearance because he appreciates Delon and his films.[449]
Michaël Sanlaville, an award-winningcartoonist inAngoulême in 2015 forLastman, found his inspiration in the works ofFrédéric Dard from a very young age. Having discovered the novels ofSan Antonio in his parents' attic, he decided to adapt these works into comic books. To embody San-Antonio, Sanlaville chose to base himself on the image of Alain Delon.[450] His sculptural face and piercing gaze perfectly embody the handsome, irreproachable and hieratic hero described by Dard.[451][452]
A significant part of the work of Russian artist and academician Nikas Stepanovich Safronov focuses on his series titledRiver of Time, where he portrays various modern personalities, whether famous politicians, actors, or pop music stars.[453] Among those depicted areAlla Pugacheva,Sophia Loren,Pierre Cardin,Elton John, and Alain Delon. These paintings have been acquired by collectors at major national and international exhibitions, and most of them are now displayed in private collections and renowned museums inRussia andEurope.[454]
Guillaume Delorme played Alain Delon in 2009 in a German TV movie,Romy, directed by Torsten C. Fisher and retracing his love story with Romy Schneider.[458] Alain Delon is the main subject of a play inspired by his career and the world of Jean-Pierre Melville,Alain Delon or almost, of Stéphane Dolivet. The play was premiered in July 2007 at theAvignon Festival. It was revived in a new version in 2010,Alain Delon... and me.
Alain Delon'spuppet inLes Guignols de l'info expresses himself in a grandiloquent way, speaking of himself in the third person.[459]
French box office in millions of admissions (films that exceeded two million admissions in theaters). Delon has a total of 136 million admissions in France.[461] Based on the number of admissions, Delon is the 10th most popular actor in France in 2025.
Box office performance (1 638 554 per movies)
Astérix at the Olympic Games: 6,785,909
Is Paris Burning?: 4,946,274
The Sicilian Clan: 4,821,585
Borsalino: 4,710,381
The Red Circle: 4,339,821
Lost Command: 4,294,756
The Leopard: 3,649,498
Any Number Can Win: 3,518,083
Red Sun: 3,300,488
The Last Adventure: 3,120,412
Black Tulip: 3,107,512
Christine: 2,850,382
Farewell, Friend: 2,639,713
Cop's Honor: 2,517,875
Two Men in Town: 2,454,112
Purple Noon: 2,437,874
For a Cop's Hide: 2,377,084
The Swimming Pool: 2,341,721
Three Men to Kill: 2,194,795
Rocco and His Brothers: 2,173,480
The Widow Couderc: 2,008,203
Additionally, twenty-one films achieved between one and two million admissions.
Alain Delon is one of the most popular French actors inRussia. His films have accumulated a total of over 300 million admissions (with 13 films recorded).[462][463][464][465][466][467][468][469][470] This number is minimal, as the box office results of films released in theUSSR such asThe Shock,The Swimming Pool,For a Cop's Skin,Monsieur Klein,A Cop,The Sicilian Clan,Le Cercle Rouge (etc.) are unavailable. His success in the USSR represents a unique phenomenon : a Western star able to rival in popularity with the greatest Soviet actors.[471][472]
Box office performance
The Black Tulip: 76.7 million admissions (47.8 million admissions upon its release in 1970 and an additional 28.9 million during a re-release in 1984)
Zorro: 55.3 million admissions
Teheran 43: 47.5 million admissions
Once a Cop: 26.1 million admissions (a small role in which Delon appears for 1 minute with his partner at the time, Mireille Darc)
Death of a Corrupt Man: 25.4 million admissions
Three Men to Kill: 25.2 million admissions
Two Men in Town: 23.7 million admissions
The Last Adventure: 22.7 million admissions
Rocco and His Brothers: less than 20 million
The Devil and the Ten Commandments: 12.4 million admissions
L'Eclisse: 6.5 million admissions
Asterix at the Olympic Games (last recorded film): 1,717,527 admissions
Happy New Year, moms ! (С новым годом, мамы !) : 1 584 097 admissions
The Spanish press praised Alain Delon's impact on French and European cinema. The newspaperEl País stressed that "French and European cinematography of the second half of the 20th century cannot be understood without his figure".[474]
Box office (50 films recorded) detailed for Delon in Spain, where he totals 38 million admissions.[473]
Delon received numerous film and entertainment awards throughout his career. He was also honored at the "Men of the Year 2001" ceremony with the World Actor 2001 trophy inVienna, at the Imperial Hofburg palace inAustria.[476] Delon's professional awards include:
Chevalier of theOrder of Meritfor significant personal contribution to strengthening interstate cooperation, supporting state sovereignty and territorial integrity of Ukraine, popularizing the Ukrainian state in the world (by decree of PresidentZelensky dated September 4, 2023).[502]
Francophone and foreign periodicals on Alain Delon.[505]
Periodicals
Amis du Film et de la TV, No. 097, mai-juin 1964. Jacques Lombart,Nouveau No. 1 du Cinéma Français et à 28 ans, le plus jeune producteur du monde : Alain Delon
Amis du Film et de la TV No. 250, mars 1977.Dites-moi Mr Alain Delon (Entretien)
Avant-Scène Cinéma, No. 041, 1er octobre 1964. A. G. Brunelin,Alain Delon
Avant-Scène Cinéma, No. 261, 1er février 1981.Alain Delon
Cahiers de la Cinémathèque, No. 57, octobre 1992. Jean-Paul Gorce,Delon-Tonkin
Ciné-Revue, vol. 57, No. 49, 8 décembre 1977.Alain Delon : Le jour où je ne serai plus le numéro un, on aura le droit de me cracher à la g... (Entretien)
Ciné-Revue, vol. 58, No. 19, 11 mai 1978. Roger Houze,Alain Delon : Je suis une star, je suis heureux de l'être (Entretien)
Ciné-Revue, vol. 59, No. 03, 18 janvier 1979. Alain Delon dit tout sur sa vie et sur ses ambitions (Entretien)
Ciné-Revue, vol. 59, No. 42, 18 octobre 1979.Alain Delon : La France est colonisée par le cinéma américain (Entretien)
Ciné-Revue, vol. 60, No. 41, 9 octobre 1980.Alain Delon tel qu'il est ! Les confidences de la partenaire D. DI Lazzaro
Ciné-Revue, vol. 61, No. 35, 27 août 1981.Alain Delon : Je n'ai pas peur de le dire : j'ai réussi ma vie (Entretien)
Ciné-Revue, vol. 62, No. 04, 21 janvier 1982.Catherine Deneuve - Alain Delon : le couple choc !
Ciné-Revue, vol. 62, No. 41, 7 octobre 1982.Alain Delon : la passion du défi
Ciné-Revue, vol. 62, No. 46, 11 novembre 1982.Le merveilleux cadeau d'Alain Delon à nos lecteurs
Ciné-Revue, vol. 63, No. 04, 27 janvier 1983.Alain Delon révèle ses fabuleux secrets de star ! (Entretien)
Ciné-Revue, vol. 63, No. 22, 2 juin 1983. Gérard Néves,La vérité sur la deuxième vie d'Alain Delon
Ciné-Revue, vol. 64, No. 02, 12 janvier 1984. Gérard Néves,Alain Delon : ce qui n'a jamais été dit !
Ciné-Revue, vol. 64, No. 16, 19 avril 1984.Dalila Di Lazzaro : elle a découvert le séducteur Delon qu'on ne connait pas...
Ciné-Revue, vol. 64, No. 36, 6 septembre 1984. Gérard Néves,Alain Delon : le mystère de son départ à Hollywood !
Ciné-Revue, vol. 64, No. 48, 29 novembre 1984.Alain Delon
Ciné-Revue, vol. 65, No. 19, 9 mai 1985. Paul Emmanuel,Alain Delon, l'autre visage d'une star !
Ciné-Revue, vol. 65, No. 24, 13 juin 1985. Gérard Néves,Alain Delon, la star de tous les défis !
Ciné-Revue, vol. 65, No. 31, 1er août 1985. Gérard Néves,Les quatre vérités d'Alain Delon ! Interview exclusive
Ciné-Revue, vol. 65, No. 36, 5 septembre 1985.Vive le roi Delon !
Ciné-Revue, vol. 66, No. 15, 10 avril 1986.Alain Delon : superforme pour une superstar !
Ciné-Revue, vol. 66, No. 19, 8 mai 1986. Gérard Néves,Alain Delon : une superbe preuve d'amour au cinéma !
^Violet, Bernard (2000).Les Mystères Delon (in French). Flammarion. pp. 59, 62, 67. "The couple first lived in an apartment located on the ground floor of rue Pré-aux-Clercs, in the VIIth arrondissement...; "Brigitte Auber is formal. She remembers perfectly that Alain accompanied her at her request to Saint-Paul-de-Vence, where she owns a house."; "There, he found Willson in the company of his most famous foal,Rock Hudson, who was then filming the exteriors ofA Farewell to Arms under the direction ofCharles Vidor. Alain Delon's essays in the Eternal City are going well, in theCinecittà studios."
^abHenri Rode (1974).Le Fascinant Monsieur Delon. Pac. p. 26.
^Voir l'entretien donné par Renzo Barbieri à Graziano Origa en 2002.
^van Renterghem, Marion (August 2017). "Alain Delon: " Je me souviens "".Vanity Fair. No. 49. pp. 38–47.
^"Powerless Gallic Critics: Parisian Theatregoers Flock to Play That Is Slashed And Stay Away From Another That Is Hailed". Jean-Pierre Lendir.The New York Times 4 June 1961, p. X3.
^"Two Stars Signed for 'Lawrence' Film" Hopper, Hedda.Chicago Daily Tribune 22 March 1961: b5.
^Scheuer, Philip K. (21 December 1961). "Zanuck Pitching in as 'Day' Director: Three Units on D-Day Epic; Enemies-Below Duo Reunited".Los Angeles Times. p. B13.
^"L'Homme Presse – Alain Delon 1977 Box Office" (in French). Box Office Story.Archived from the original on 20 September 2019. Retrieved4 October 2019.Ces résultats ne peuvent qu'affecter DELON producteur. Il est trop présent à l'écran et sa présence ne suscite plus d'attente du public. Ce sera bientôt la fin de cette période très faste des années 70 où l'acteur se permettait de produire des films risqués ou des projets personnels. Il devra revoir ses projets pour mettre en route des films plus sûrs financièrement dans un genre apprécié du public: le polar.
^Roberts, Nesta (30 October 1968). "French actor's bodyguard 'shot'".The Guardian. London. p. 3.
^Hofmann, Paul (8 November 1968). "French Murder Case Develops into an 'Affaire': Slaying of Actor's Bodyguard Stirs Rumors of Bizarre Scandal in High Places".The New York Times. p. 2.
^Méfret, Jean-Pax (2011).La sale affaire Markovic. Paris: Pygmalion. pp. 91, 94.ISBN978-2-7564-0572-8.p. 91... "an album of libertine photos showing Markovic in the company of Parisian personalities, including the wife of the former Prime Minister". At the S.D.E.C.E., agent Karamel's information is not dismissed without follow-up. Especially since it is, almost immediately, supported by the revelations of a certain Boriboj Akov, a Yugoslav prisoner, imprisoned for theft, receiving stolen goods and possession of weapons, in Fresnes prison. p. 94: On October 30, Inspector Georges Manceau of the Judicial Police is sent by Commissioner Samson to Fresnes prison to question the author of the letter addressed to Delon. Akov is talkative. He says that Stevan liked to photograph his conquests in lascivious poses. Photos that he then sold. The prisoner gives the names of some of the Yugoslav playboy's victims, wives of industrialists who paid large sums of money to avoid being compromised. He talks about the unlawful parties that Markovic dragged him to... The revelations are explosive, serious and harmful to certain personalities.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: publisher location (link)
^Dahse, Bettina (2002).Romy: ich hätte Ihnen so gern noch was gesagt--; eine biographische Hommage. Hoffmann und Campe.ISBN978-3-455-09354-4.
^Dahse, Bettina (2002).Romy: ich hätte Ihnen so gern noch was gesagt--; eine biographische Hommage (in German). Hoffmann und Campe.ISBN978-3-455-09354-4.
^"Hommage à Alain Delon – identification d'une icône | Site culturel officiel de l'Institut français du Japon".Site culturel officiel de l'Institut français du Japon | L’Institut français du Japon représente la langue et la culture françaises au Japon. Il propose et soutient des activités et événements de natures variées : cinéma, musique, exposition, spectacle, atelier, littérature, débats. (in French). 23 October 2024. Retrieved11 November 2024.
^Gallagher, Mark (2017)."Alain Delon, International Man of Mystery". In Rees-Roberts, Nick; Waldron, Darren (eds.).Alain Delon: Style, Stardom and Masculinity. Bloomsbury Publishing USA. p. 92.ISBN978-1-5013-2012-5.Delon's lasting reputation may not be as an actor or even personality, but as a global style icon... Delon on-screen exudes a strong sex appeal that partly accounts for the sentiments that continue to accompany discussions of his films in cinephile forums.
^"Яндекс".www.kinopoisk.ru (in Russian). Retrieved8 March 2025.
^"Яндекс".www.kinopoisk.ru (in Russian). Retrieved8 March 2025.
^"Яндекс".www.kinopoisk.ru (in Russian). Retrieved8 March 2025.
^"Яндекс".www.kinopoisk.ru (in Russian). Retrieved8 March 2025.
^Alexander Fedorov (2024). "French Films in the USSR and France Film Distribution (1945–1991)".Media Education (Mediaobrazovanie).{{cite web}}:Missing or empty|url= (help)
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