On 18 August, the final curtain has closed on a long life lived with intensity and elegance

The golden age of cinema has long gone, and one by one its heroes are taking their leave as well. Now Alain Delon has joined them, peacefully passing away at home at the age of 88 after a long and debilitating illness. He leaves behind a legacy that will forever be etched in the annals of film history as that of a man whose life and career were as enigmatic and captivating as the characters he so effortlessly portrayed.

Born on November 8, 1935, in the Parisian suburb of Sceaux as the son of a pharmacist and a movie theatre usher, Alain Delon’s early life was marked by turbulence and uncertainty, broken homes and rebellious escapades. He was expelled from several schools and joined the French Navy as a teenager, a decision that took him to the tumultuous battlefields of Indochina. Yet, it was this rocky start into teenage and adult life that honed his raw magnetism, a quality that would later captivate audiences worldwide.

Delon’s entry into the world of cinema was as serendipitous as it was spectacular. Discovered by chance during his post-military stint in Paris, his striking good looks and the intense gaze of his piercing blue eyes caught the attention of filmmakers. While his film debut in Quand la femme s’en mêle (1957) was unremarkable, it wouldn’t be long before his smoldering screen presence catapulted him into stardom.

It was his role in René Clément’s Plein Soleil (1960) that truly defined Delon as an international sensation. Portraying the charming yet sinister Tom Ripley, Delon’s performance was a masterclass in subtlety and menace, solidifying his status as the quintessential anti-hero. His portrayal of Ripley, a role later revisited by other actors, remains the definitive interpretation – a testament to Delon’s unparalleled ability to blend elegance with an undercurrent of danger.

Throughout the 1960s and 1970s, Delon’s career flourished with a series of iconic roles that showcased his versatility and depth as an actor. From Luchino Visconti’s Rocco e i suoi fratelli (1960) and Il Gattopardo (1963) to Jean-Pierre Melville’s Le Samouraï (1967) and Le Cercle Rouge (1970), Delon was the embodiment of cool detachment and existential melancholy. His collaborations with Melville, in particular, carved out a niche in film noir, where Delon’s stoic, impenetrable characters became the gold standard for the genre.

In contrast, Hollywood proved to be quite resistant to Alain Delon’s charm and good looks – after making a couple of movies there that never quite took off due to his lack of English language skills, he returned to France and reconnected with his film stardom there. But even if the door to a big international career was closed from one side, the world’s movie stars would come to him. Kirk Douglas, Burt Lancaster, Jane Fonda, Richard Burton, Dean Martin, Claudia Cardinale… all were thrilled to star alongside the “monstre sacré” of French cinema. And to this day, the contemporary Hollywood acting and producer elite from Leonardo di Caprio to Keanu Reeves and Bruce Willis pinpoint the Frenchman as a monumental influence and inspiration for their own careers. He himself saw things quite differently. Notoriously shy though, Delon loved his craft but hated the attention:

 
Delon was renowned for his meticulous approach to his craft. He insisted on performing many of his own stunts, including a particularly dangerous sequence involving a high-speed car chase through the narrow streets of Paris. The stunt was so perilous that the film’s producer expressed concern for the actor’s safety. But with his characteristic cool, Delon simply smiled and said, “If I don’t do it myself, who will? A man must live with his choices, or he isn’t living at all.” His unwavering commitment to authenticity on screen solidified his reputation as an actor who lived his roles as much as he played them.

It is said that an actor’s true talent shines on stage, and live theatre always held great appeal for Alain Delon who throughout his cinematic career performed in a variety of productions. True to his introvert nature, he did not necessarily seek out the biggest or most famous venues (although the Bouffes Parisiens was his personal favourite) but was quite happy playing in small, intimate theatres in front of an audience that appreciated his talent even more than his name. He loved playing alongside his daughter Anouchka, and with his choice of plays he often catapulted lesser known but gifted writers onto the national scene, like Eric Assous or Eric-Emmanuel Schmitt.

As the years passed, Delon transitioned from leading man to elder statesman of cinema, taking on more nuanced roles that reflected his own life’s complexities. In Notre Histoire (1984), his performance earned him the César Award for Best Actor, a fitting recognition of his enduring talent, and one of many prestigious distinctions, including Knight, then Officer of the French Légion d’Honneur.

Yet, Alain Delon was more than just an artistic icon; he was a cultural phenomenon. His brooding charisma and effortless style made him a fashion icon, while his off-screen romances and controversies fueled an image of the ultimate European star. Delon’s personal life was as public as his film career, marked by high-profile relationships with stars like Romy Schneider, Nathalie Delon, and Mireille Darc, as well as a string of legal battles and personal tragedies that only added to his mythos.

His later years were marked by a gradual retreat from the public eye and the relentless spotlight that had followed him for decades, choosing instead to live a life of quiet reflection, surrounded by his considerable art collection and his beloved dogs. His last major appearance took place in Cannes in 2019 where he received the Palme d’or d’honneur for his life’s work at the Cannes Film Festival. The same year also marks his transition into poor health. After that, he only finds himself in the news headlines indirectly through his family’s quite public feuds.

Alain Delon’s impact on cinema, particularly European cinema, is immeasurable. He was a trailblazer who redefined the notion of the leading man, imbuing his characters with a depth and complexity that resonated across cultures and generations. Delon’s films continue to be celebrated, studied, and revered, not only for their cinematic excellence but for the magnetic presence of a man who was, and always will be, one of the greats.

Reflecting on his life and career, Delon once famously said, “I have known fear. I have known despair. I have known darkness. I have known the worst. And I have survived.” This quote encapsulates the essence of an artist and a man who faced life’s trials with an unflinching gaze, emerging from each challenge with a renewed sense of purpose and an indomitable spirit. The curtain falls on a remarkable life and career. Yet, through his films, Delon remains immortal – a timeless figure of elegance, forever ensconced in the flickering light of the silver screen.

Lead image by Frederic.roubieu, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons; photo of Alain Delon Mural in Cannes by plb06 on Flickr France – Cannes – La Bocca 2012, licensed under CC BY-NC-ND 2.0; photo of Alain Delon Cannes by Georges Biard, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons; drawing of Alain Delon by Alexandre Miuccio