Macron mourns the passing of legendary actor Alain Delon
8:12 AM EDT, August 18, 2024
France's President Emmanuel Macron spoke out after the death of actor Alain Delon. The politician called him a "French monument," thanks to whose "legendary roles the world could dream."
The death of Alain Delon was reported on Sunday morning by the AFP agency, citing the actor's children. The artist died at the age of 88 in his home in Douchy.
In January, Delon was placed under judicial protection to ensure he received medical care.
In 2019, the actor suffered a stroke. In the last years of Delon's life, his children engaged in a public dispute over the appropriate treatment of their father and, according to media reports, over the division of the star's estate after his death.
Macron spoke out
France's President Emmanuel Macron spoke out after Alain Delon's death, emphasizing in a post on platform X that the 88-year-old "was more than a star; he was a French monument."
"He lent his unforgettable face to turn our lives upside down. Melancholic, popular, mysterious," wrote Macron.
The AFP agency noted that mainly representatives of the right-wing political scene in France paid tribute to Delon. "A legend has passed. Alain Delon leaves us as orphans of the golden age of French cinema, which he so well embodied," declared Marine Le Pen.
AFP wrote that Delon was raised during the Gaullism era—a movement created by President Charles de Gaulle—and was a friend of Jean-Marie Le Pen. He never hid his conservative beliefs and closeness to the right, which he supported during presidential elections.