Early Life and Education of Alain Delon: A Complete Timeline
An overview of the childhood and early education of Alain Delon, highlighting the experiences that shaped the journey.
Alain Delon is a French actor, producer, screenwriter, singer, and businessman recognized as a major cultural and cinematic figure of the 20th century. Rising to prominence in the late 1950s, he became a leading European actor and international sex symbol. Delon's style, appearance, and iconic roles cemented his enduring popularity and status as a significant figure in French culture.
March 1904: Birth of François Fabien Delon
François Fabien Delon, Alain Delon's father, was born on March 12, 1904, in Craponne-sur-Arzon. He worked as a projectionist and later as the director of the cinema Le Régina in Bourg-la-Reine.
April 1911: Birth of Édith Marie Suzanne Arnold
Édith Marie Suzanne Arnold, Alain Delon's mother, was born on April 19, 1911.
November 1935: Alain Delon's Birth
On November 8, 1935, Alain Fabien Maurice Marcel Delon was born in Sceaux, a suburb of Paris. He later became a renowned French actor, film producer, screenwriter, singer, and businessman.
1939: Divorce of Delon's Parents
In 1939, when Alain Delon was four years old, his parents divorced. He was then entrusted to a foster family.
1945: Hearing the Execution of Pierre Laval
In 1945, while living with his foster family near Fresnes Prison, Alain Delon heard the salvo that executed wartime collaborator Pierre Laval.
1946: Return to Birth Parents
In 1946, following the death of his foster parents, Alain Delon was sent back to his birth parents, who shared custody of him. He was later placed in a Catholic boarding school.
1953: Service at Bormette Signals School
In 1953, Alain Delon continued his French Navy service at the Bormette Signals School after a stint at the Pont-Réan Maritime Training Centre. He faced disciplinary action for stealing equipment.
1956: Return to France and Odd Jobs
In 1956, after his naval service, Alain Delon returned to France. He worked various odd jobs, including a produce handler and a waiter, and became acquainted with members of the French underworld.
1958: Co-starred in Christine with Romy Schneider
In 1958, Alain Delon co-starred with Romy Schneider in the film Christine, marking the beginning of their relationship.
March 1959: Engagement to Romy Schneider
On March 20, 1959, Alain Delon became engaged to actress Romy Schneider, after they met while co-starring in the 1958 film Christine. The couple was nicknamed "les amants magnifiques".
1959: Admiration for Jean Marais
In a 1959 interview aired on Cinépanorama during the filming of 'Rocco and His Brothers', Alain Delon expressed his admiration for Jean Marais, stating that he idolized the actor and sought to emulate his simplicity.
1963: Met Francine Canovas (Nathalie Barthélémy)
In 1963, Alain Delon met Francine Canovas (Nathalie Barthélémy), a model.
August 1964: Marriage to Nathalie Barthélémy
On August 13, 1964, Alain Delon married Francine Canovas, known as Nathalie Barthélémy, due to her pregnancy, and she took the name Nathalie Delon.
September 1964: Birth of son Anthony Delon
On September 30, 1964, Alain Delon's son, Anthony Delon, was born to Nathalie Delon.
October 1964: Met Ratna Sari Dewi at the Tokyo Olympics
In October 1964, Alain Delon met Ratna Sari Dewi at the Tokyo Olympics, and the two began a relationship.
1964: End of relationship with Romy Schneider
In 1964, Alain Delon and Romy Schneider ended their relationship.
1965: Continued affair with Marisa Mell
In 1965, Alain Delon's liaison with Marisa Mell continued even after his marriage in 1964.
1967: Met Ratna Sari Dewi in Paris
In 1967, Alain Delon met Ratna Sari Dewi in Paris, the two remained close in the following years.
August 1968: Met Mireille Darc
In August 1968, Alain Delon met French actress Mireille Darc during the shooting of the film Jeff, and they started a relationship that lasted until 1982.
October 1968: Bodyguard found dead, investigation ensues
In October 1968, the body of Stefan Marković, Alain Delon's bodyguard, was found in Élancourt, Yvelines. Alain Delon and François Marcantoni were investigated, partly due to a letter from Marković implicating them in the event of his death. The investigation involved former French Prime Minister Georges Pompidou.
February 1969: Divorce from Nathalie Delon
On February 14, 1969, Alain Delon and Nathalie Delon divorced.
1969: Conviction for assaulting photographer
In 1969, Alain Delon was convicted in absentia and sentenced to four months in jail by an Italian court for assaulting an Italian photographer.
1969: Delon's letter to de Gaulle after resignation
In 1969, after Charles de Gaulle resigned from the French presidency, Alain Delon wrote him a letter expressing his pride in being French and a sense of shame at the referendum result.
1974: Supported Valéry Giscard d'Estaing
In 1974, Alain Delon supported the center-right candidate Valéry Giscard d'Estaing in his successful presidential campaign.
1981: Supported Valéry Giscard d'Estaing again
In 1981, Alain Delon supported Valéry Giscard d'Estaing again in his failed attempt to be reelected.
1982: End of relationship with Mireille Darc
In 1982, Alain Delon and Mireille Darc ended their relationship.
1986: Sunglasses popularity in Hong Kong
In 1986, Alain Delon's brand of sunglasses became popular in Hong Kong after actor Chow Yun-fat wore them in the crime film A Better Tomorrow, as well as two sequels. Delon thanked Chow for helping to sell the sunglasses in Hong Kong and China.
1987: Met Rosalie van Breemen
In 1987, Alain Delon met Dutch model Rosalie van Breemen on the set of the music video for his song "Comme au cinéma" and started a relationship.
1988: Supported Raymond Barre
In 1988, Alain Delon gave his support to Raymond Barre.
November 1990: Birth of Anouchka Delon
On November 25, 1990, Alain Delon's daughter, Anouchka Delon, was born.
March 1994: Birth of Alain-Fabien Delon
On March 18, 1994, Alain Delon's son, Alain-Fabien Delon, was born.
1999: Acquisition of Swiss Citizenship
In 1999, Alain Delon acquired Swiss citizenship.
2001: End of relationship with Rosalie van Breemen
In 2001, Alain Delon and Rosalie van Breemen ended their relationship.
2007: Supported Nicolas Sarkozy
In 2007, Alain Delon gave his support to Nicolas Sarkozy.
2009: Delon admits regret at not marrying Schneider
In 2009, Alain Delon admitted his regret at not marrying Romy Schneider.
2009: Christian Dior used images of Alain Delon in Eau Sauvage cologne advertising campaigns
In 2009, Christian Dior used images of the young Alain Delon and excerpts of his 1960s film The Swimming Pool in the Eau Sauvage cologne advertising campaigns.
2013: Expressed sympathy for the National Front
In 2013, Alain Delon expressed sympathy for the French far-right National Front's electoral successes.
2015: Christian Dior used images of Alain Delon in Eau Sauvage cologne advertising campaigns
In 2015, Christian Dior used images of the young Alain Delon and excerpts of his 1960s film The Last Adventure in the Eau Sauvage cologne advertising campaigns.
2017: Endorsed François Fillon
In 2017, Alain Delon endorsed the Gaullist candidate François Fillon, and did not vote in the second run-off between Emmanuel Macron and Marine Le Pen.
2018: Denied voting for Marine Le Pen
In 2018, Alain Delon denied having ever voted for Marine Le Pen.
2018: Delon refers to Schneider as the love of his life
In 2018, Alain Delon referred to Romy Schneider as the love of his life.
June 2019: Delon suffered a stroke
In June 2019, Alain Delon suffered a stroke and was admitted to hospital after experiencing dizziness and headaches.
August 2019: Recovering in a Swiss hospital
In August 2019, Alain Delon was recovering in a Swiss hospital following his stroke.
2019: Cognitive tests conducted on Alain Delon after stroke
In 2019, after suffering a stroke, Alain Delon underwent five cognitive tests between 2019 and 2022, the results of which were allegedly concealed from the family according to his son, Anthony.
July 2021: Plans for one more film
In July 2021, during an interview on TV5Monde, his first since having two strokes, Alain Delon announced his plans to act in one more film.
2021: Expressed support for euthanasia
In 2021, Alain Delon expressed support for euthanasia, calling it "the most logical and natural thing".
September 2022: Began experimental treatment for lymphoma
In September 2022, Alain Delon began experimental treatment for a slow-progressing lymphoma.
September 2022: Interview with Ukrainian President Zelensky
In September 2022, Alain Delon interviewed Ukrainian President Zelensky as part of a TV5Monde special program on the war in Ukraine titled Face à Zelensky, during which Delon expressed his support for the Ukrainian people.
2022: Endorsed Valérie Pécresse
In 2022, Alain Delon endorsed Valérie Pécresse, calling her "the only woman he wants to be president".
2022: Cognitive tests conducted on Alain Delon after stroke
In 2022, Alain Delon underwent five cognitive tests between 2019 and 2022, the results of which were allegedly concealed from the family according to his son, Anthony.
2022: Wished to be removed from life support if in a coma
In 2022, Alain Delon's son Anthony revealed that Alain wished to be removed from life support if he were to succumb to a coma, and had asked Anthony to fulfill his request. 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.
2022: Invited to Ukraine by Volodymyr Zelenskyy
In 2022, the 86-year-old Alain Delon was invited by Volodymyr Zelenskyy to travel to Ukraine.
July 2023: Complaint filed against Hiromi Rollin
In July 2023, Alain Delon's children filed a complaint against Hiromi Rollin, alleging psychological harassment, interception of correspondence, animal cruelty, intentional violence, unlawful confinement, and abuse of weakness. A preliminary investigation was opened. Hiromi Rollin disputed the allegations and planned to file a complaint against the Delon family. Ultimately, the complaints were dismissed due to insufficiently characterized offenses, but further legal actions were anticipated.
2023: Children stopped lymphoma treatment
In the summer of 2023, Alain Delon's three children made the decision to stop his experimental lymphoma treatment because it was weakening him.
January 2024: Complaint filed against son Anthony
In January 2024, Alain Delon filed a complaint against his son Anthony following an interview in Paris Match magazine where Anthony discussed his father's health and accused Anouchka of inheritance manipulation. Anthony also filed a police report against Anouchka for not sharing negative cognitive test results of their father.
February 2024: Police raid and firearm seizure at Delon's home
On February 26, 2024, police raided Alain Delon's home and seized 72 firearms and 3,000 rounds of ammunition, as he was not authorized to own a firearm.
March 2024: Anouchka Delon sues her brothers for invasion of privacy
On March 29, 2024, Anouchka Delon sued her brothers for invasion of privacy after a recording of a conversation between her and her father was broadcast on Instagram in January 2024. The trial date is set for April 2025.
April 2024: Alain Delon placed under reinforced guardianship
In April 2024, Alain Delon was placed under reinforced guardianship by judicial decision, following a hearing at the Montargis court. This measure follows a period during which Delon had already been placed under guardianship since January 25, granting the curator the power to manage his expenses.
August 2024: Alain Delon's Death
Alain Delon passed away on August 18, 2024, at the age of 88 at his home in Douchy, surrounded by family, after being diagnosed with B-cell lymphoma earlier in the year. Before his death, he expressed a wish to have his dog euthanized and buried with him, a wish that was ultimately not fulfilled by his family.
August 2024: Private Funeral for Alain Delon
On August 24, 2024, Alain Delon was buried in a private chapel on his estate in Douchy, as per his wishes, near his thirty-five dogs. Around fifty guests, including his children, attended the ceremony officiated by Catholic bishop Jean-Michel Di Falco.
April 2025: Trial date set for invasion of privacy lawsuit
The trial date is set for April 2025 for Anouchka Delon's lawsuit against her brothers for invasion of privacy.
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