Alain Delon Died at 88: Tributes and Reactions

Alain Delon The star of Plein soleil and Le Samouraï died at 88, so the thousands of his fans—from France to every corner of the world—are in a state of shock. His children, Alain Fabien, Anouchka, and Anthony, along with his dog Loubo, expressed their deep sorrow in a joint statement to Agence France-Presse (AFP), announcing the loss of their father. Anthony shared that the actor, who had been battling lymphoma, passed away around 3 a.m.

Mr. Klein, Rocco, the Leopard, and the Samurai—Alain Delon brought these iconic characters to life, captivating audiences and sparking our imaginations. His remarkable presence transformed our experiences and left a lasting impression.” reacted President Emmanuel Macron on X, who hailed “a French monument . “

Brigitte Bardot expressed her sorrow on Sunday, stating that Alain Delon’s passing leaves an immense emptiness that cannot be filled by anything or anyone,” in a message shared with AFP and later obtained by Le Monde. She added, “With Alain’s death, we close the remarkable chapter of a glorious era, of which he was a true icon.

The actor spent his final years at his home in Douchy (Loiret), where he intended to be laid to rest not far from his beloved dogs. The prefecture granted its “approval in principle.” On Sunday, many people gathered in front of his house to place flowers in his memory.

As of now, there hasn’t been any public announcement regarding a national tribute from either the President of the Republic or the actor’s team. However, the actor had previously addressed this topic during his lifetime, expressing his disapproval of such a ceremony.

In a 2018 episode of “Thé ou café” on France 2, host Catherine Ceylac inquired if he desired a “funeral like Johnny Hallyday or Charles Aznavour.” Alain Delon firmly responded, “No, absolutely not. “Today and tomorrow I say no,” he stated, expressing his preference to be “buried like everyone else, not like those you mentioned.”

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Italy salutes Alain Delon, an actor who is also part of its history

It is impossible to talk about Alain Delon without thinking of Italy. Barely 24, he met the famous Italian director Luchino Visconti in 1959, a real turning point which could define his cinematic career. Two years later, again through the directions of Visconti, Delon played the role of a southern Italian exile in the movie Rocco and His Brothers. This role captured the harsh realities of life in Milan during the Italian economic miracle,it was such time when many southerners had migrated north in search of better opportunities due to poverty.

Gian Luca Farinelli, the director of the Bologna Cinematheque, a prominent institution in Italian cinema, remarked to Le Monde that Alain Delon ascended to the pinnacle of global cinema at a remarkably young age, particularly through his work in Italy and with Visconti. He noted, “Delon represents one of the final figures of a generation of actors who navigated a dual Franco-Italian existence, akin to Marcello Mastroianni, Serge Reggiani, or Philippe Noiret… This was a time of a genuinely European cinema, more cohesive than what we witness today.”

In Japan, extensive media coverage of Alain death

As noted by our correspondent in Tokyo, Philippe Mesmer, it’s no surprise that the Japanese media extensively covered Alain Delon’s passing on Sunday, given his significant popularity in Japan.

A lot of the headlines highlight the movie that catapulted him to fame: Plein soleil. Many publications, including the Yomiuri daily, remember him as nimaime, a kabuki theater term that refers to “the charming, attractive man with gentle movements and speech.”

The Mainichi released a collection titled “The Journey of the Most Handsome Man,” featuring the actor’s numerous visits to Japan from 1963 to 1986. The Sponichi newspaper reminisces about his immense popularity, highlighting his appearances in ads for Mazda and the clothing line Urban, as well as in songs like the one sung by Ikue Sakakibara in 1977, titled Al Pacino + Alain Delon, toi.

 He even made an appearance in Osamu Akimoto’s manga Kochikame. The daily newspaper highlights that people have frequently referred to Japanese actors Hayato Tani, Masakazu Tamura, and Masao Kusakari as the “Japanese Alain Delon.” Additionally, Sponichi discusses the challenges he faced in his relationship with Hiromi Rollin, a Japanese woman who shared her life with the actor.

Flowers placed in tribute to Alain at the entrance of his Douchy property

He even made an appearance in Osamu Akimoto’s manga Kochikame. The daily newspaper highlights that people frequently refer to Japanese actors Hayato Tani, Masakazu Tamura, and Masao Kusakari as the “Japanese Alain Delon.” Additionally, Sponichi discusses the challenges he faced in his relationship with Hiromi Rollin, a Japanese woman who shared her life with the actor.

This morning, his three children shared a press release regarding his passing. They expressed that Alain Delon “has gone to reunite with Marie among the stars that he cherished so much.”

“The death of Alain Delon at the age of 88 leaves behind a dent in cinema. To French and international cinema, he was a legend, whose passing has met an outpouring of heartfelt reactions and tributes globally.Colleagues, fans, and various personalities state that they will remember Delon for his great career in the arts, unforgettable performances, and undeniably lasting legacy. As the world is shaken by the loss of this iconic actor, the mark he left on cinema and culture remains inerasable.”