In Memoriam: The French Film Giant "Alain Delon" Dies At 88

The French film legend Alain Delon has died at the age of 88, as a part of the golden era of French cinema, knowing for his tough-guy personalitie on screen, his most valuable and iconical films includes titles such as "The Samurai, Borsalino, L'Eclisse and Purple Noon. 

The actor was in poor health in recent years and become a virtual recluse, he passed away peacefully in his home in Douchy, surrounded by his three children and his family. Once described as the most beautiful man in the movies, Delon starred in hits from the 1960s including The Leopard and Rocco and his Brothers, he stole the hearts of fans whatever role he was playing, from a murderer to a charismatic conman.

From the 1990s, his film appearances grew rare, but he remained a fixture in the celebrity columns. In total, Delon made almost 90 films during the course of his career playing legendary roles and made the world dream. Melancholy, popular, secretive, he was more than a star: he was a French monument.

Le Parisian newspaper called Delon "a legend of the cinema", while Liberation described him as "a leading figure of cinema, symbol of shadowy masculinity, the actor with crazy charisma", represented the best of France's 'prestige cinema', also he was considered ambassador of elegance, talent, beauty.

Delon's last major public appearance was to receive an honorary Palme d'or at the Cannes film festival in May 2019. At the event, he made an emotional speech in which he appeared to bid farewell to cinema. "It's a bit of a posthumous tribute, but from my lifetime," he had said. "I am going to leave, but I won't leave without thanking you."

But he also faced criticism. Some disapproved of his support for Jean-Marie Le Pen, leader of the far-right National Front, who championed the death penalty and opposed same-sex marriage. His relationship with women also caused controversy and led to claims of misogyny. The actor had three children - two sons and a daughter - by two different women, and a third son unacknowledged and now dead.

In recent years, his surviving children have been laying bare their mutual grievances before the media in a series of insults, accusations, lawsuits and secret recordings. It included disagreements over his medical treatment, following his stroke in 2019.