French heartthrob Alain Delon dead at 88

Actor-producer had been battling cancer

French actor and producer Alain Delon has died at 88.

Delon's three children, Anthony, Anouchka and Alain-Fabien, confirmed his death to the Agence France-Presse.

A beloved heartthrob and leading man for much of the ‘60s and ’70s, Delon co-starred alongside many famous actresses, including Shirley MacLaine, Jane Fonda, Lola Albright and Jane Birkin.

HOLLYWOOD STARS WHO DIED IN 2024: PHOTOS

Black and white photo of French actor Alain Delon and American actress Lola Albright

Alain Delon and Lola Albright are pictured on the set of their 1964 movie "Les Felins." (Sunset Boulevard/Corbis via Getty Images)

Although he saw significant success in the French movie market, Delon had trouble making his mark in the United States. He co-starred with Fonda and Albright in the 1964 movie "Les Felins," or "Joy House," which was filmed in both French and English. 

His first Hollywood film was in 1965 with Swedish actress Ann-Margret in "Once a Thief."

Black and white photo of Jane Fonda with her face pressed against Alain Delon's in "Joy House"

Jane Fonda and Alain Delon in "Joy House," also known as "Les Felins," in France. (Getty Images)

LIKE WHAT YOU’RE READING? CLICK HERE FOR MORE ENTERTAINMENT NEWS

At the prime of his career, Delon was sought out by some of the world’s top directors, from Luchino Visconti to Joseph Losey, but he later became disenchanted with the industry, saying money had killed the dream. 

"Money, commerce and television have wrecked the dream machine," he wrote in a 2003 edition of newsweekly Le Nouvel Observateur. "My cinema is dead. And me, too."

He was the recipient of the Honorary Palme d'Or at the Cannes Film Festival in 2019, an award that is given to the director of the Best Feature Film at the festival. Delon was recognized for his longtime work in the industry.

A young Alain Delon in a black shirt looks at the camera

Alain Delon had trouble gaining traction in the United States, but he remained a fixture in European cinema. (Bettmann/Getty Images)

CLICK HERE TO SIGN UP FOR THE ENTERTAINMENT NEWSLETTER

French President Emmanuel Macron paid tribute to the star, writing on X in a post translated to English, "Alain Delon has played legendary roles and made the world dream. Lending his unforgettable face to turn our lives upside down. Melancholy, popular, secret, he was more than a star: a French monument."

Former French singer and actress Brigitte Bardot mourned the loss of her friend, writing to her foundation's Instagram page, "I lose a friend, an alter ego, an accomplice," in a post translated to English. "We shared the same values, the same disappointments, the same love of animals."



APP USERS CLICK HERE TO VIEW INSTAGRAM

     View this post on Instagram           

A post shared by Fondation Brigitte Bardot (@fondationbrigittebardot)

Alain Delon smiles in a black suit and white shirt in Cannes

Alain Delon received the Honorary Palme d'Or at the Cannes Film Festival in 2019. (Pascal Le Segretain/Getty Images)

Earlier this year, Delon's son, Anthony, said his father had been diagnosed with B-cell lymphoma, a type of cancer. Delon’s health had been at the heart of an ongoing family dispute over his care, much of which played out in the media.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

Caroline Thayer is an entertainment writer for Fox News Digital. Follow Caroline Thayer on Twitter at @carolinejthayer. Story tips can be sent to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

Authored by Caroline Thayer via FoxNews August 18th 2024