Alain Delon biography, height, women, children, young photos, net worth, age and cause of death

Biography of Alain Delon

Alain Delon is a famous French theater and film actor, a legend of world cinema. His popularity peaked in the 1960s-1980s when this blue-eyed Frenchman drove millions of women crazy and was considered one of the main sex symbols of the era. His name has long become synonymous with an attractive man who can make people fall in love at first sight.

Childhood

Alain Delon was born on November 8, 1935, in the Paris suburb of Sceaux and spent his childhood in the small town of Bourg-la-Reine, located 9 kilometers from the capital. Alain's parents belonged to the petite bourgeoisie. His father, Fabien Delon, owned and managed a small cinema called "Le Régina". His mother, Édith, worked at a pharmacy and later became an usher at her husband's cinema.

Fabien often boasted about belonging to an old Corsican aristocratic family and being a distant relative of Napoleon Bonaparte. While expecting the child, Édith proudly called him "Bonaparte's heir," and when the boy was born, she surrounded him with care akin to adoration. The "little emperor" showed his character: he screamed, bit, and fought, clutching something in his fist.

When Alain turned three, his parents divorced and each created their own family. Alain stayed with his mother, who married a butcher named Paul Boulogne. The butcher shop was right in the house, and Édith (who took on the role of saleswoman) didn't have time to raise her son. The hired nanny ran away after Alain bit her in a fit of anger.

Then the boy was placed in the care of Madam Nero, a wet nurse living nearby. Nero's husband worked as a guard at the local prison, and their house stood two steps away from the prison yard. Alain spent many hours watching the prisoners. A prisoner being dragged to execution left an indelible mark on his young soul. Since then, Delon felt a strong aversion to law enforcement.

In 1943, Édith gave birth to a daughter. Alain loved his sister but felt increasingly lonely. He felt rejected by both his father, who also had new children, and his mother. Later, in interviews, Delon compared his younger self to a bristling hedgehog, a bundle of nerves.

When it was time to start first grade, Alain was sent to a boarding school, from which he was expelled after three months for outrageous misbehavior. He changed three schools in his first year, each time being expelled for the same reasons. Édith was puzzled because Alain behaved differently at home: he played the piano with pleasure (he was a very musical child), played with his sister, and was eager for female attention. But when her son entered adolescence, she realized how right the teachers had been. Alain turned into a real tornado; even a single intense look from him could unsettle Édith for a whole day.

Youth

13-year-old Alain was taken in by his biological father, but bonding with his son was not part of his plans. Young Delon ended up in a Jesuit boarding school at a monastery. It seemed that life under strict discipline had tamed the teenager's spirit. He read the Bible, learned psalms, shone in the church choir, and unexpectedly showed an aptitude for mathematics. After lulling vigilance, Alain, along with a friend, escaped from the boarding school and headed to the port, hoping to sneak onto a ship bound for America. They were predictably caught and sent to the police station.

Alain Delon was a handsome but very difficult teenager

Then his stepfather seriously took on the task of raising the rebellious young man. Paul decided to involve him in the family business and sent him to train in the Union of Meat Processing Workers. By the age of 16, Alain had learned to butcher dead pigs and slit the throats of live ones, quickly getting used to their death throes. But shortly before receiving his diploma, he was expelled, accused of stealing a seal and forging grades. Delon took jobs in three different shops but was fired from each, despite being skilled in butchering carcasses.

Family relations began to resemble a picnic on the crater of an active volcano. His stepfather suggested Alain join the army, thinking that his unruly nature might be curbed there. The young man was thrilled—he realized this was the chance to prove himself that he had been waiting for. Enlisting in the French armed forces, after brief training, he was sent to Indochina, where France was fighting to retain its colony. It was the final months of combat, and it was becoming clear the enemy was winning. However, Alain managed to participate in battles and narrowly escaped death several times under enemy fire.

The war did terrible things to me: it killed the last shreds of my illusions and hopes. There, I forever ceased to be a child. I felt like a man, though I wasn't one at the time. I merely pretended to be a man with a weapon.

Nevertheless, he never regretted the bitter experience—according to him, military service brought him closer to himself and taught him several things that were very useful in his acting career:

Discipline, knowledge of hierarchy, and knowing when to shut up when a more experienced comrade is speaking.

Even in the army, the young man managed to get into trouble: he argued with superiors, drank, and once stole a jeep to visit a lover living nearby. However, he lost control, crashed into a tree, wrecked the vehicle, and spent his 20th birthday in the guardhouse.

After serving his sentence, Delon returned to his homeland. On the way home, he bought a revolver, not realizing that the seller was cooperating with the authorities and reported him. Upon his return to the port of Marseille, law enforcement was already waiting for Alain. He spent the next month and a half in a jail cell.

Career Start

Upon returning to Paris in May 1956, Alain Delon got a job as a waiter at the Colisée restaurant near the Champs-Élysées. He didn't have a penny to his name, and almost all his earnings went towards renting a shabby room. But within a month, Delon moved into the luxurious apartment of movie star Brigitte Auber, who once visited the Colisée and was surprised that such a handsome young man worked as a simple waiter.

Brigitte took her new lover to the Cannes Film Festival, and something clicked in the young man's mind. He became obsessed with fame and tried every way to make the right connections. He did it effortlessly. In Cannes, he caught the attention of photographers even before he got his first audition invitation – he pretended to be the double of Hollywood actor James Dean, with whom he indeed had a resemblance.

At the dawn of his career, Alain Delon posed as James Dean's double

Cannes introduced Delon to Hollywood impresario Harry Wilson, who was impressed by the Frenchman's resemblance to the recently deceased Dean and offered him a collaboration. At the same time, Alain met French director Yves Allégret, who invited the handsome actor to the film "When a Woman Meddles" (1957). Choosing between a career in Hollywood and his homeland, Delon chose the latter.

Alain Delon in the film 'When a Woman Meddles'

After his debut, Delon starred in Marc Allégret's comedy "Be Beautiful But Shut Up" and earned a decent fee for his work. Today, this film with Alain Delon is watched with a special sense of nostalgia, as he appears in just one scene, performing alongside the equally inexperienced actor Jean-Paul Belmondo.

Alain Delon and Jean-Paul Belmondo in the comedy 'Be Beautiful But Shut Up'

Delon then charmed one of the most influential agents in the French film industry, Olga Horstig. She sent a photo of the young actor to the established star Romy Schneider, who was looking for a partner for the historical drama "Christine." We will talk more about the complicated relationship between Romy and Alain in the "Personal Life" section. As for the film, it was released in 1958 and received a lukewarm reception, but Delon was awarded the title of "discovery of the year."

Alain Delon and Romy Schneider in the film 'Christine'

The Rise

Real recognition came to the young actor after the premiere of René Clément's detective film "Purple Noon" in March 1960. The plot of this film may be familiar to modern audiences because Anthony Minghella later made a remake titled "The Talented Mr. Ripley" (1999).

Now we can enjoy comparing the performances of Matt Damon and Alain Delon, but back then, the 24-year-old Frenchman was recognized as a talented actor with "hidden depths" and the face of a "fallen angel." By portraying Tom Ripley, who kills his friend to take his place—not just for his status but also for his perceived happiness—Alain Delon proved he was not just a handsome man with striking looks, but an actor capable of nuanced performances.

After "Purple Noon," Delon became famous beyond France—he caught the attention of the famous Italian director Luchino Visconti. In 1960, Alain played the lead role of the naive and kind-hearted Rocco in Visconti's film "Rocco and His Brothers," which also starred Annie Girardot and Claudia Mori (the wife of Adriano Celentano). This role was the opposite of the previous one—Delon played a noble character, and critics praised his talent and ability to transform.

Alain Delon in the film 'Rocco and His Brothers'

The 1960s almost became Alain Delon's era, at least in France. Under Visconti's influence, in just two years, the young man transformed from a rough-edged brute into a refined socialite with knowledge of cinema, theater, literature, and art. He changed his wardrobe, bought a mansion with a stable, and started collecting antique weapons. For a role in a single film, he earned up to 20 million francs, a huge sum at the time.

Alain Delon, sex symbol of French cinema in the 1960s

Every year, several films starring him were released, with the most famous being "L'Eclisse" (1962) by Michelangelo Antonioni, "The Leopard" (1963) by Visconti, with Claudia Cardinale, and "The Black Tulip" (1963). The poster caption "Delon" in large letters was already a solid reason to go to the cinema—a few years earlier, the unknown actor had become a brand in himself.

On the set of the film 'The Black Tulip'

In 1965, Delon went to Hollywood, but the films made in America did not achieve much success. Upon returning to France, however, he had several notable works: "The Last Adventure," "Le Samouraï" (1967), "Spirits of the Dead" (1968) with Brigitte Bardot and Jane Fonda, "The Swimming Pool" (1969) with Romy Schneider and Jane Birkin, and "The Sicilian Clan" (1969) with Jean Gabin. In 1970, he formed a brilliant duo with his rival Jean-Paul Belmondo in the gangster drama "Borsalino."

Alain Delon with Brigitte Bardot on the set of 'Spirits of the Dead'

In 1975, he took on the role of Zorro in the film of the same name—the role of a bold and seductive criminal or, conversely, a fighter for justice became one of the most successful in his career.

Alain Delon in the legendary role of Zorro

Over the next three decades, Delon acted in more than 50 films, including works by Jean-Pierre Melville, Jacques Deray, Jean-Luc Godard, and Louis Malle, and even famous Soviet directors Alov and Naumov (the drama "Teheran 43"). He also tried his hand as a director, screenwriter, and producer, performed in several major theatrical productions, and sang the popular song "Paroles, paroles" with singer Dalida.

Dalida and Alain Delon – 'Paroles, paroles'

For many years, the elegant and stately Delon was the main sex symbol not only of France but of Europe at the very least. Many directors often exploited the image he created of the "cold beauty" in their films. However, Delon did not want to become a hostage to one image, and often chose roles that broke stereotypes about him—such as the role of a homosexual in the adaptation of Marcel Proust's novel "Swann in Love" (1983) or the role of an alcoholic in Bertrand Blier's drama "Our Story" (1984). Incidentally, he received the César Award (the French Oscar) for this work.

Personal Life of Alain Delon

“I suffered a lot, I made mistakes sometimes, but I loved,” – this is how Alain Delon succinctly described his life in one sentence.

How many women did he love? Officially, the actor was married three times, with two other women playing significant roles in his life.

The number of women in Alain Delon's life is incalculable

We have already mentioned his relationship with actress Brigitte Auber, who was 10 years older than the young actor. She introduced him to the world of cinema, took him to the Cannes Film Festival, igniting his passion for acting fame, and introduced him to prominent figures in French cinema. Their relationship didn't last long: shortly after the trip to Cannes, she grew tired of the increasingly aggressive lover.

Delon met Austrian actress Romy Schneider in 1958 on the set of the film "Christine" – they couldn't resist each other and soon began a passionate romance. Initially, Romy was resistant to the advances of the little-known actor who lacked manners. Delon was not only devilishly handsome and charming but also a keen psychologist who quickly understood that Schneider was in a toxic relationship with her controlling mother. Alain gave Romy the freedom she desperately needed, and soon they announced themselves as a couple.

In 1962, German singer Nico claimed she had an illegitimate son with Delon, but he did not acknowledge this. Soon Nico recorded a cult album with New York's The Velvet Underground and became Andy Warhol's muse. However, her drug addiction prevented her from being a good mother.

Nico and the illegitimate son of Alain Delon

Delon's parents took pity on Nico and took the baby Ari in, giving him the surname Boulogne, much to the dismay of their son. As an adult, Ari recalled that his mother wrote letters to her former lover all her life but never dared to send them. Ari died in 2023 from a drug overdose.

The affair with Nico was not Delon's only infidelity. Schneider tolerated her husband's affairs for a long time but eventually couldn't bear the constant humiliation. In 1964, despite being engaged, one of the most beautiful acting couples of the time broke up.

Alain Delon and Natalie Barthelemy with their son Anthony

In 1963, he tried to charm actress Claudia Cardinale while filming "The Leopard." The Italian beauty was one of the few women who resisted the Frenchman's charms. She found out that Delon and Visconti had made a bet on her and did not fall for his advances. Perhaps this is why Alain and Claudia maintained a warm friendship that lasted for many years.

The actor married for the first time in 1964. The lucky bride was French actress Natalie Barthelemy. She lacked the beauty and social polish of Romy Schneider, but she had something Delon had unsuccessfully sought in Romy for six years: adventurousness and wildness. As Olga Horstig recalled, Delon couldn't be himself – brutal and wild – next to Schneider. "He was like a trained Pomeranian on a leash," Olga claimed. But Natalie didn't hinder his self-expression.

Soon Natalie became pregnant. They had a secret wedding, and a few months later, their son Anthony was born. Delon gave several interviews stating that from now on, his child and family would come first. The idyll lasted three years, after which the couple began to quarrel. According to Natalie, she wanted to return to cinema. Close sources claimed that Natalie had been unfaithful to Delon all these years.

Anthony Delon, middle son of Alain Delon

So when Stefan Markovic, Delon's friend, bodyguard, and stunt double, and Barthelemy's lover, was murdered in the fall of 1968, the police suspected the film star of a jealousy-fueled murder. The scandal around the actor lasted 18 months, with both him and Natalie being questioned five times. In the end, the political version of the murder prevailed, suggesting Markovic was a pawn in a high-ranking political game aiming to frame Prime Minister Georges Pompidou.

Alain Delon was suspected of the murder of Stefan Markovic

Even unproven murder suspicions were enough to tarnish Alain Delon's reputation. Amid the "Markovic case," he divorced Natalie Barthelemy. Former friends turned away from him, directors refused to cast him, and actors didn't want to share the set. His only close friend remained Jean-Paul Belmondo.

Alain Delon and Jean-Paul Belmondo remain close friends

But at that moment, the beautiful Mireille Darc, muse of director Georges Lautner, appeared in the disgraced actor's life. She managed to reconcile Delon with Romy Schneider, change his views on raising his son (he once forced Anthony to enter a cage with aggressive dogs that bit everyone except their owner), and supported him when the ripples from the "Markovic case" continued.

She became a reliable shoulder for Delon, assisting in every business venture, whether it was opening a riding school, buying an airline, opening a restaurant, organizing boxing matches, or launching an exclusive furniture line. Fast forward, almost all of Delon's ventures outside of acting failed. His company's planes didn't get permission to fly over France, his thoroughbreds weren't allowed to race, and boxing match organizers were accused of fixing fights.

Alain Delon & Jane Birkin

Their union lasted thirteen years. Delon periodically cheated on Mireille and even lived with young French actress Anne Parillaud for a while. But when Darc was diagnosed with a severe heart condition, he returned to his wife and supported her until her full recovery in 1980. All the actor could think about was finding the best cardiac surgeons and studying medical literature. After the surgery, he told his beloved: "Nothing and no one will separate us!"

The former spouses have maintained friendly relations

In 1982, Delon left the recovered Mireille for Catherine Bleynie, a woman unrelated to show business and art. The girl was indifferent to anything outside of everyday matters. She was young but, according to Delon's friends, not good enough for him.

In 1986, Alain began a romance with 21-year-old Dutch model Rosalie Van Breemen. In this relationship, the actor became a father twice more: in 1990, his daughter Anouchka was born, and in 1994, his son Alain-Fabien.

Now, with most of his career behind him, Delon seemed to finally want to dedicate himself to his family. But over the years, a rift grew between the spouses. Finally, in 2001, when Delon decided to make himself and his children Swiss residents to pay fewer taxes but "forgot" about his wife, Rosalie packed up and took the children on the next flight to the Netherlands.

For many years, Delon had a close relationship with Japanese woman Hiromi Rollin. He met her, then an assistant director, in 1990 on the set of the film "Dancing Machine." They later worked together on the film "The Return of Casanova." A close friend of the actor claimed that for over 30 years, they had an intimate relationship and even considered marriage. Hiromi cared for Delon after he suffered two strokes in the summer of 2019.

Delon's closeness with Rollin caused dissatisfaction among his children. In July 2023, they filed a lawsuit against the woman living in Douchy, Delon's estate, accusing her of overstepping her authority, having ulterior motives, and mistreating the actor. After this, she was evicted from the estate. Hiromi claimed that the children rarely visited their father, denied him necessary medications, and were motivated by fear of losing their inheritance.

We had a peaceful life together, surrounded by our beloved dogs and cats... He was happy and asked for nothing more, nor did I. 95% of my life was dedicated to Alain.

She filed a counterclaim, alleging physical force was used during her eviction from Douchy. Both claims were dismissed, but Hiromi has since been barred from entering Douchy.

At the beginning of 2024, a public scandal erupted – this time, Delon's children were quarreling. 59-year-old Anthony Delon accused his half-sister Anouchka in an interview with Paris-Match of hiding their father's cognitive test results. She sharply retorted: "Father can no longer tolerate Anthony's aggressive outbursts, who calls him a 'senile'." Alain-Fabien then entered the fray, posting a video on social media showing Anouchka whispering nasty things about her brothers to their father.

The reason for the family discord, as often happens, was Alain Delon's inheritance, estimated at approximately 245 million euros, not counting real estate, a luxury car fleet, and an impressive art collection. According to the will, half of the property should go to Anouchka, with her brothers each receiving a quarter.

Last Years and Death

Alain Delon founded his own film studio, acquired luxurious estates, and owned stables, yachts, and a rich art gallery. Factories produced perfumes with his name, and his songs' discs were regularly reissued. The actor created his empire, but he suffered from loneliness in it. Delon longed to be loved for who he was, not seen as the image created 50 years ago.

In 2012, Delon played himself in the Russian melodramatic comedy "Happy New Year, Moms!" and in 2017, he officially announced his retirement from acting.

Alain Delon in his youth and later years (Cannes 2019)

In May 2019, Alain was at the center of a new scandal. The Cannes Film Festival awarded him the "Palme d'Or" for his overall contribution to world cinema. However, American activist Melissa Silverstein, founder of "Women and Hollywood," was displeased. She recalled Delon's statements against same-sex couples adopting children, rude remarks about women, and accusations of domestic violence. Thousands of activists signed a petition to revoke Delon's award, but the festival organizers upheld their decision.

In the summer of 2019, the artist suffered two strokes. Additionally, he had blood cancer – diffuse lymphoma – and Alzheimer's disease.

In early 2022, Alain Delon shocked fans by saying he wanted to end his life voluntarily through euthanasia. The actor lived in Switzerland, where the procedure is legal.

At some point, a person can leave on their own, by their own choice. Without hospitals and injections – peacefully and quietly.

Alain Delon on euthanasia

In May of the same year, several media outlets reported that Alain had carried out his intentions, but his press secretary denied this.

On August 18, 2024, Alain Delon passed away from natural causes. His family made a statement:

Alain-Fabien, Anouchka, Anthony, and (dog) Loubo deeply regret to announce the passing of their father after a long illness. He died peacefully at his home in Douchy, surrounded by his three children and family.

Ethel Pate Journalist

Alain Delon

Photos: Alain Delon