"Alain Delon, a prominent French actor and producer, significantly impacted 20th-century cinema. His captivating style, striking looks, and diverse roles propelled him to international stardom, solidifying his place as a European acting legend throughout the 1960s, 1970s, and 1980s. His enduring popularity cemented his status as a global icon."
Alain Delon's father, François Fabien Delon, was born in March 1904.
Alain Delon's paternal great-grandfather, Fabien Delon, passed away in December 1909.
Alain Delon's mother, Édith Marie Suzanne Arnold, was born in 1911.
Alain Delon's maternal grandmother, Maria Minard, passed away in 1913.
Alain Delon's paternal grandfather, Jean-Marcel Delon, passed away in 1926.
Alain Delon was born in Sceaux, France, in November 1935.
Alain Delon was born in Sceaux, France, in November 1935.
Alain Delon's parents divorced in 1939, when he was four years old.
Alain Delon began his military service in the French Navy in 1953.
Alain Delon fought in the Battle of Dien Bien Phu in 1954.
Alain Delon and singer Dalida first crossed paths in Paris in 1955, becoming neighbors in a building on the Champs-Élysées. They would later have a brief romantic relationship in the mid-1960s.
Alain Delon returned to France after his military service in 1956.
Alain Delon met actress Brigitte Auber in 1957 and began to make connections in the film industry.
Alain Delon met actress Romy Schneider for the first time on April 10, 1958, at Orly airport in Paris.
Alain Delon met actress Romy Schneider in 1958 when they co-starred in the film "Christine". Their relationship quickly gained attention, with the press dubbing them "les amants magnifiques" (the magnificent lovers).
Alain Delon became engaged to actress Romy Schneider in March 1959. They had met on the set of the film "Christine" (1958).
Alain Delon starred in the film "Women Are Weak", which was released in 1959 and became a hit in France.
Alain Delon's film "Women Are Weak" was released in 1959 and became his first film to be seen in America.
Alain Delon's maternal grandfather, Alfred Louis Arnold, passed away in 1959.
Two of Alain Delon's most acclaimed films, "Purple Noon" and "Rocco and His Brothers," were released in 1960.
Alain Delon had two notable film releases in 1960: "Purple Noon" and "Rocco and His Brothers".
In 1960, Alain Delon achieved international recognition with his roles in "Plein Soleil" ("Purple Noon") and "Rocco and His Brothers". His performance as Tom Ripley in "Plein Soleil", based on the novel by Patricia Highsmith, earned him critical acclaim, and the film was a success in France and on the art house circuit internationally. He also received praise for his performance in Luchino Visconti's "Rocco and His Brothers".
Alain Delon had a relationship with German actress, singer, and model Nico in 1961.
Alain Delon's younger brother, Jean-François Delon, reconnected with him in 1961 after seeing a poster for "Rocco and His Brothers".
Delon made his stage debut in 1961 in John Ford's play "'Tis Pity She's a Whore", directed by Visconti and co-starring Romy Schneider. The production was a box office success. He continued to appear in films, including the Italian comedy "The Joy of Living", the anthology film "Famous Love Affairs" (with Brigitte Bardot), and a reunion with René Clément.
In 1961, Alain Delon was considered for a role in Joshua Logan's Fanny.
Alain Delon starred in the critically acclaimed film "L'Eclisse" ("The Eclipse"), directed by Michelangelo Antonioni, which was released in 1962.
Alain Delon starred in the film "L'Eclisse", which was released in 1962.
In 1962, Delon starred opposite Monica Vitti in Michelangelo Antonioni's "L'Eclisse". While not a box office success, the film was a critical triumph.
Nico gave birth to their son, Christian Aaron Boulogne (Ari Päffgen) "Ari", in 1962, but Delon did not recognize the child as his.
Delon starred alongside Jean Gabin in the heist film "Any Number Can Win" in 1963. He also appeared in the anthology film "The Devil and the Ten Commandments".
The release of "Any Number Can Win" in 1963 marked a turning point for Delon. He had taken distribution rights instead of a salary, a gamble that proved highly lucrative and became known as "Delon's Method". The film's success further solidified his star power.
Alain Delon met Francine Canovas, a model professionally known as Nathalie Barthélemy, in 1963.
Alain Delon starred in the film "The Leopard", which was released in 1963.
Alain Delon starred in Luchino Visconti's historical epic "The Leopard", which was released in 1963 to critical acclaim.
Alain Delon married Nathalie Barthélemy in August 1964.
Alain and Nathalie's son, Anthony Delon, was born on September 30th, 1964.
Delon's career reached new heights in 1964 with his role in Visconti's masterpiece "The Leopard" ("Il Gattopardo"), co-starring Burt Lancaster and Claudia Cardinale. The film was a major success, further establishing Delon as one of France's most popular stars. He followed this with the hit swashbuckler "The Black Tulip".
In 1964, Delon and Schneider's passionate and tumultuous relationship ended.
In 1964, the Cinémathèque Française held a showcase of Delon's films. He also formed the production company Delbeau Production with Georges Beaume. Their first film, "The Unvanquished" ("L'insoumis"), faced legal issues and was not a commercial success. Delon then decided to pursue opportunities in Hollywood.
In 1965, Delon expressed his desire to work in both America and Europe. He also acknowledged that his French accent limited the roles he could pursue in Hollywood, prompting him to work on neutralizing his accent to broaden his range.
In 1965, Alain Delon was considered for a role in Tony Richardson's The Loved One.
Delon made his British film debut in the anthology film "The Yellow Rolls-Royce", featuring an all-star cast. He then made his Hollywood debut in the lead role of "Once a Thief", opposite Ann-Margret, although the film was not as successful as hoped.
By 1965, the financial landscape of the film industry had shifted. Delon noted that no one had successfully replicated his method of taking distribution rights instead of a salary.
Alain Delon's relationships in 1965 included ongoing affairs with Marisa Mell, even after his marriage to Nathalie, as well as reported liaisons with actresses Ann-Margret and Lana Wood.
In 1966, Alain Delon was considered for a role in Sydney Pollack's This Property Is Condemned.
In 1966, Delon starred in the big-budget action film "Lost Command" for Columbia Pictures, co-starring Anthony Quinn and Claudia Cardinale. While other projects were announced, including the biopic "Cervantes", they did not materialize. He also appeared in the Universal Western "Texas Across the River" with Dean Martin, and there was interest from director Ray Stark for roles in "The Night of the Iguana" and "This Property Is Condemned".
Alain Delon filed for divorce from Nathalie Barthélemy in 1967.
Alain Delon starred in the critically acclaimed crime film "Le Samouraï", directed by Jean-Pierre Melville, which was released in 1967.
Alain Delon starred in the film "Le Samouraï", which was released in 1967.
While filming "La Piscine" in August 1968, Delon met actress Mireille Darc, beginning a relationship that lasted until 1982.
In October 1968, the body of Stevan Marković, Alain Delon's former bodyguard, was discovered in a public dump in Élancourt, Yvelines. Delon and Corsican gangster François Marcantoni were investigated after a letter from Marković blamed them for his potential death.
Delon returned to France after his stint in Hollywood. In 1968, he starred in "The Last Adventure" with Lino Ventura, a hit in France. He also appeared on stage in Paris in "Les Yeux Crevés" and collaborated with Jean-Pierre Melville on "Le Samouraï", which became a classic. He also starred in "Diabolically Yours" for director Julien Duvivier.
In 1968, Alain Delon was considered for a role in Henri Verneuil's The Scavengers.
Alain Delon starred in the film "The Girl on a Motorcycle", which was released in 1968.
In 1968, Delon appeared in another anthology film, "Spirits of the Dead". His segment was directed by Louis Malle and co-starred Brigitte Bardot. He made another attempt at English-language cinema with "The Girl on a Motorcycle", opposite Marianne Faithfull, which was a surprise hit in Britain. He also starred in the French crime film "Farewell Friend" ("Adieu l'ami") with Charles Bronson, which was a major success and helped elevate Bronson's career in Europe.
Alain Delon and Nathalie Barthélemy officially divorced on February 14th, 1969.
Alain Delon starred alongside Romy Schneider in the psychological thriller "La Piscine" ("The Swimming Pool"), directed by Jacques Deray, which was released in 1969.
Alain Delon starred in the film "La Piscine", which was released in 1969.
Delon starred in a string of gangster films, including "Jeff" (produced by his own company, Adel), "The Sicilian Clan" (with Lino Ventura and Jean Gabin, a major hit), and "Borsalino" (co-starring Jean-Paul Belmondo, a huge success in Europe). These films, however, failed to achieve the same level of success in the United States as Delon had hoped.
During the filming of "La Piscine" ("The Swimming Pool") with Romy Schneider in 1969, a scandal erupted involving the murder of Delon's bodyguard, Stevan Marković. The investigation uncovered alleged sex parties involving celebrities and politicians, and Delon was questioned about his potential involvement. The "Marković affair" became a major controversy in France.
In 1969, Alain Delon was convicted in absentia by an Italian court and sentenced to four months in jail for assaulting an Italian photographer.
The film "The Love Mates", released in 1969, was inspired by the love triangle involving Delon, Mireille Darc, and Maddly Bamy.
In 1970, the crime film "Borsalino", which Delon both produced and starred in alongside Jean-Paul Belmondo, became a major hit in Europe.
Alain Delon starred in the French crime film "Le Cercle Rouge" ("The Red Circle"), directed by Jean-Pierre Melville, which was released in 1970.
Alain Delon starred in the film "Le Cercle Rouge", which was released in 1970.
In 1970, Alain Delon purchased a copy of Charles de Gaulle's 1940 speech manuscript for 300,000 francs and returned it to the French government.
In 1971, Alain Delon appeared opposite Simone Signoret in the French film "The Widow Couderc."
In 1971, William Friedkin's The French Connection contained explicit references to Alain Delon's character Jeff Costello from The Samurai.
Maddly Bamy decided to end her relationship with Alain Delon in 1971.
Seeking to diversify his roles, Delon produced and starred in the romantic drama "The Love Mates" in 1971. He also appeared in the comedy "Easy, Down There!". Neither film achieved commercial success.
Alain Delon starred in several films in 1972, including "The Assassination of Trotsky" and "Red Sun." He also appeared in the French film "The Widow Couderc" and his third film with Melville, "Un flic." Additionally, he produced and starred in the romantic drama "Indian Summer."
Alain Delon starred in the film "Un flic", which was released in 1972.
The Italian comic strip series "Playcolt", first published in 1972, featured a character named Alain Velon, a billionaire playboy inspired by Alain Delon's looks and persona.
In 1973, Alain Delon was considered for the role of Duncan Idaho in Alejandro Jodorowsky's abandoned adaptation of Dune. He was also considered for roles in iconic productions like Lawrence of Arabia and The Godfather.
In 1973, Delon recorded the iconic duet "Paroles, paroles" with Dalida. He also starred in the Hollywood film "Scorpio" alongside Burt Lancaster, directed by Michael Winner.
Delon achieved a major international hit in 1973 with the song "Paroles...paroles," a duet with Egyptian-French singer Dalida.
In 1973, Alain Delon played Gino Strabliggi in Two Men in Town, a role later reprised by Forest Whitaker.
Delon starred in two thrillers, "Traitement de choc" and "Tony Arzenta," in 1973.
Alain Delon, as a singer, recorded the popular duet "Paroles, paroles" with Dalida in 1973.
After starring in the thriller "Icy Breasts," Delon took on the title role in the Italian-French swashbuckler film "Zorro" in 1974.
Delon appeared in "The Burned Barns" and "Creezy." He also produced and starred in "Two Men in Town," which reunited him with Jean Gabin, and the sequel "Borsalino & Co."
In 1974, Francis Ford Coppola's The Conversation contained explicit references to Alain Delon's character Jeff Costello from The Samurai.
Delon starred in several crime films, including "The Gypsy," "Flic Story" with Jean Louis Trintignant, and "Zorro."
In 1976, Alain Delon was considered for a role in Martin Scorsese's Taxi Driver.
Alain Delon starred in and co-produced the critically acclaimed film "Monsieur Klein" ("Mr. Klein"), directed by Joseph Losey, which was released in 1976.
Delon starred in the thrillers "Boomerang" and "Armaguedon." Notably, he also starred in "Monsieur Klein" in 1976, earning him a César Award nomination.
Alain Delon starred in the film "Monsieur Klein", which was released in 1976.
Alain Delon's father, François Fabien Delon, passed away in 1977.
Delon starred in and produced several thriller films in 1977, including "Man in a Hurry," "Death of a Corrupt Man," and "Le Gang."
Continuing his streak in thrillers, Delon starred in "Attention, The Kids Are Watching" in 1978.
In 1979, Alain Delon turned down the role of James Bond offered by Albert Broccoli, refusing to succeed Sean Connery.
In 1979, Delon revealed that only a quarter of his business activities involved films. He had interests in helicopters, furniture, prizefighting, and horse racing. He also expressed a continued desire to become a star in America.
In a final attempt at Hollywood stardom, Delon signed with agent Sue Mengers and starred in "The Concorde ... Airport '79." Despite this, he returned to French cinema with "The Medic."
The Italian comic strip series "Playcolt", which featured a character inspired by Alain Delon, concluded in 1979 after running for 128 issues across four series.
Delon produced and starred in the French film "Three Men to Kill" in 1980.
Delon co-starred with Claude Jade and Curd Jürgens in the Soviet production "Teheran 43." He then returned to crime films with "For a Cop's Hide."
In 1981, Alain Delon was considered for a role in John Huston's Victory.
After fourteen years together, Alain Delon and Mireille Darc ended their relationship in 1982.
Delon starred alongside Catherine Deneuve in the 1982 film "Le choc."
Delon collaborated with Shirley Bassey on the internationally successful song "Thought I'd ring you" in 1983.
Delon starred in the film "Le Battant" in 1983.
Delon won the Best Actor César Award for his role in "Notre histoire." He also portrayed Baron de Charlus in the film adaptation of Marcel Proust's "Swann in Love."
Alain Delon won the César Award for Best Actor for his performance in "Notre histoire" in 1985.
In the 1970s, Delon expanded his business ventures into harness racing and promoting boxing matches. He also developed and promoted various products under his name, including wristwatches, clothing, eyewear, perfume, stationery, and cigarettes. His sunglasses brand gained significant popularity in Hong Kong after actor Chow Yun-fat wore them in the 1986 crime film "A Better Tomorrow" and its sequels. Delon reportedly sent a letter to Chow, expressing gratitude for his role in promoting and selling the sunglasses in Hong Kong and China.
In 1986, a still image of Alain Delon from the film "The Unvanquished" was featured on the cover of The Smiths' album "The Queen Is Dead" with his permission.
Delon returned to starring in thriller films with "Parole de flic" in 1986.
Alain Delon met Dutch model Rosalie van Breemen in 1987 while filming a music video.
Delon continued to take on thriller roles, starring in "The Passage" and "Let Sleeping Cops Lie" in 1988.
Alain Delon and Rosalie van Breemen's daughter, Anouchka Delon, was born on November 25th, 1990.
Delon starred in the thriller "Dancing Machine." Notably, he also appeared as twins in Jean-Luc Godard's "Nouvelle Vague."
Alain Delon became a member of France's Legion of Honour in 1991.
Alain-Fabien Delon, the son of Alain Delon and Rosalie van Breemen, was born on March 18th, 1994.
In 1994, Alain Delon was among Anne Rice's top choices for the role of Louis in the film adaptation of Interview with the Vampire, which eventually went to Brad Pitt.
In 1994, American producer Robert Evans paid tribute to Alain Delon in his memoirs, calling him his "brother in life as in cinema" and "the most beautiful actor in Europe."
Alain Delon's mother, Édith Marie Suzanne Arnold, passed away in 1995.
Delon announced his decision to retire from acting in 1997, although he would still occasionally take on roles.
Delon had a major role in Patrice Leconte's film "Une chance sur deux," which unfortunately performed poorly at the box office.
Alain Delon became a Swiss citizen on September 23, 1999. His company, which manages products sold under his name, is headquartered in Geneva, Switzerland.
Alain Delon acquired Swiss citizenship in 1999.
Alain Delon received the "World Actor 2001" trophy at the "Men of the Year 2001" ceremony held in Vienna, Austria, at the Imperial Hofburg palace in 2001.
Delon starred in the French television drama "Fabio Montale," playing an aging policeman, a role that resonated with viewers. The show was a huge success.
In 2001, Ari Boulogne initiated legal action to establish Delon's paternity, but the attempt was unsuccessful.
The relationship between Alain Delon and Rosalie van Breemen came to an end in 2001.
Attempting to replicate the success of "Fabio Montale," Delon produced and starred in the French television police drama "Frank Riva" in 2003. While it performed well, it wasn't as successful as "Fabio Montale."
"Alain Delon or almost", a play by Stéphane Dolivet drawing inspiration from Alain Delon's life and the films of Jean-Pierre Melville, premiered at the Avignon Festival in July 2007.
Delon starred as Jules Cesar alongside Gérard Depardieu in the box-office hit film "Asterix aux jeux Olympiques." During this period, he primarily focused on roles in television movies and also made appearances on the French stage.
Delon directed the TV movie "Love Letters" in 2008, which starred Anouk Aimee and was based on a play by A.R. Gurney.
Christian Dior featured images of a young Alain Delon and excerpts from his 1960s films "The Swimming Pool" in their 2009 advertising campaign for the "Eau Sauvage" cologne.
In 2009, Delon expressed regret for not marrying Romy Schneider.
Actor Guillaume Delorme portrayed Alain Delon in "Romy", a German TV movie directed by Torsten C. Fisher, which aired in 2009. The film depicted Delon's romantic relationship with actress Romy Schneider.
French singer Emma Daumas released a song titled "Dans les yeux d'Alain Delon" (In the eyes of Alain Delon) on her EP "Acoustic" in 2010 as a tribute to the actor.
Stéphane Dolivet's play "Alain Delon or almost", which centers on Alain Delon's career and the films of Jean-Pierre Melville, was revived with a new version titled "Alain Delon... and me" in 2010.
Delon appeared in the television movie "Une journée ordinaire" in 2011.
In 2012, Delon made a cameo appearance as himself in the Russian film production "S Novym godom, Mamy!"
Alain Delon publicly expressed his support for the French far-right political party, the National Front, in 2013.
Christian Dior again used images of Alain Delon, this time from his 1960s film "The Last Adventure," for their 2015 "Eau Sauvage" cologne advertising campaign.
Michaël Sanlaville, an award-winning cartoonist, drew inspiration from Alain Delon's appearance for his comic book adaptation of Frédéric Dard's "San-Antonio" novels in 2015. He felt Delon's strong features and gaze perfectly embodied the protagonist.
The French media reported the cancellation of the film project "La Maison Vide," which was set to star Delon alongside Juliette Binoche and be directed by Patrice Leconte. No specific reason was provided for the cancellation.
Many years after their separation, in 2018, Delon admitted that Romy Schneider was the love of his life.
At the age of 83, Alain Delon released a new single titled "Je n'aime que toi" in April 2019. The track was written and composed by Rick Allison and Julia Paris.
In June 2019, Alain Delon suffered a stroke and was hospitalized due to dizziness and headaches.
By August 2019, Alain Delon was recovering in a Swiss hospital following his stroke.
Ari Boulogne made another attempt to sue Delon for legal recognition of paternity in 2019, but it was also unsuccessful.
Alain Delon received the Honorary Palme d'Or at the 2019 Cannes Film Festival.
Alain Delon received an honorary Palme d'Or at the 2019 Cannes Film Festival for his illustrious career in cinema. The festival also featured a retrospective of his films. However, the award sparked controversy due to Delon's alleged past remarks about women. Despite this, Thierry Fremaux, the festival's artistic director, praised Delon's individuality and courage, while Delon himself gave an emotional response, likening the award to a "posthumous tribute while being alive." His daughter, Anouchka Delon, presented him with the award.
Alain Delon experienced a severe stroke in 2019, which marked the beginning of a decline in his health.
Delon made another cameo appearance as himself in the 2019 film "Toute Ressemblance," portraying a guest on a talk show.
In his first interview since experiencing two strokes, Alain Delon revealed on TV5Monde in July 2021 that he intends to take on one more film role.
In a 2021 interview, Alain Delon expressed support for euthanasia, calling it "the most logical and natural thing".
Delon interviewed Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy for TV5Monde in September 2022. The interview was part of a special program called "Face à Zelensky," focusing on the situation in Ukraine, during which Delon expressed his support for the Ukrainian people.
In September 2022, Alain Delon began experimental treatment for a slow-progressing lymphoma.
Between 2019 and 2022, Alain Delon underwent five cognitive tests, the results of which became a point of contention between his children.
In 2022, Anthony Delon revealed in his autobiography that his father Alain Delon wanted to be removed from life support if in a coma. Rumors of Delon planning euthanasia were denied by his son, Alain-Fabien.
Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelenskyy invited Alain Delon to visit Ukraine in 2022.
Alain Delon's children filed a complaint against Hiromi Rollin, alleging psychological harassment and other offenses, on July 5, 2023.
In July 2023, legal proceedings unfolded involving complaints from both Alain Delon's children and Hiromi Rollin, with accusations and counter-accusations related to their relationship and alleged mistreatment.
In mid-2023, Alain Delon's children united to evict his former companion Hiromi Rollin, accusing her of abusing their father.
In the summer of 2023, Alain Delon's children decided to stop his experimental treatment for lymphoma as it was weakening him.
Following an interview in which Anthony Delon discussed his father's health and accused Anouchka Delon of manipulating their father, Alain Delon filed a complaint against Anthony on January 4, 2024.
In January 2024, Alain Delon was reported to be in poor health and living reclusively. A public feud erupted between his children over his health status.
In January 2024, Anthony Delon gave an interview where he expressed worries about his father's declining health, accusing his half-sister, Anouchka, of manipulating their father, particularly regarding his inheritance.
On 26 February 2024, police raided Alain Delon's home and seized 72 firearms and 3,000 rounds of ammunition. Delon, who is not authorized to own firearms, was reported to the judge by a court-appointed official.
Anouchka Delon took legal action against her brothers, Anthony and Alain-Fabien, on March 29, 2024, accusing them of invasion of privacy after they released a recording of a private conversation.
Alain Delon was placed under reinforced guardianship by a court ruling in April 2024, following concerns about his health and well-being, and granting the appointed guardian authority over his affairs.
Alain Delon died peacefully on 18 August 2024 at his home in Douchy, surrounded by family. He was 88.
Alain Delon passed away in August 2024.
The trial date for the invasion of privacy case between Anouchka Delon and her brothers, Anthony and Alain-Fabien, is scheduled for April 2025.