Tributes pour in for french film legend alain delon

POLITICIANS LEAD THE PRAISE OF FRANCE’S ‘LEADING MAN’ A wealth of tributes have poured in for Alain Delon following the death of the iconic actor on Sunday (August 18), aged 88. Politicians,

film stars, commentators and members of the public have commented on the actor’s legacy, both in France and around the world. French President Emmanuel Macron called the actor “a French

monument” on X (formerly Twitter).  > Monsieur Klein ou Rocco, le Guépard ou le Samouraï, Alain Delon a > incarné des rôles légendaires, et fait rêver le monde. Prêtant > son visage

 inoubliable pour bouleverser nos vies. >  > Mélancolique, populaire, secret, il était plus qu’une star : un > monument français. pic.twitter.com/1JTqPfVo5n > — Emmanuel Macron 

(@EmmanuelMacron) August 18, 2024 “A small part of the France we love leaves with him,” said Marine Le Pen, leader of the far-right Rassemblement National, with Eric Ciotti adding that Delon

was a “sincere patriot… and man of the French right-wing.”  The actor drew criticism for his support for Jean-Marie Le Pen, leader of the far-right party, however left-wing politicians also

praised his undeniable influence on 20th-century film.  Alain Delon was “an icon of the cinema who… the whole world is mourning,” said Fabien Roussel, leader of the French Communist Party.

Mayor of Paris Anne Hidalgo said he was “a giant… left his mark on people's minds and hearts.”  Major news sites across the globe, including Der Spiegel in Germany and the BBC in the

UK, highlighted the actor’s influence. The former called him “the James Dean of Europe.”  The actor’s influence spread as far afield as Japan, where state broadcaster NHK said Delon was

“idolised… for his charm and body language.” FANS FLOCK TO ACTOR’S HOME  Fans flocked to the Douchy-Montcorbon commune in Loiret, where Delon lived in the final years of his life, following

the announcement of his death.  Residents began to lay wreaths outside soon after the news broke and these have been added to by fans.  According to local authorities the actor wished to be

buried at his property ‘and had taken the necessary steps’ for this.  Read more: Explainer: burials, cremations and funerals in France Despite his worldwide success, headlines in recent

years have focused on the fractious relationship between the star and his children.  You can read more about this – and his career – in our profile piece, published in February 2024 below. 

Read more: Alain Delon: French cinema legend dogged by scandal and family feud His children united to make a joint-announcement of their father’s death on Sunday.