French movie legend Alain Delon has died on the age of 88.

The actor was a star of the golden period of French cinema, recognized for his tough-guy persona on display in hits together with The Samurai and Borsalino.

Delon had been unwell lately and had change into a digital recluse. Extra lately, the breakdown of his household had made headlines in France.

Brigitte Bardot led tributes in France saying Delon’s loss of life left a “big void that nothing and no-one will have the ability to fill”.

As soon as described as probably the most stunning man within the motion pictures, Delon starred in hits from the Sixties together with The Leopard and Rocco and his Brothers.

He stole the hearts of followers no matter position he was enjoying, from a assassin to a charismatic conman.

From the Nineties, his movie appearances grew uncommon, however he remained a fixture within the movie star columns.

In whole, he made virtually 90 movies throughout the course of his profession.

French President Emmanuel Macron was amongst these paying tribute to Delon on Sunday, saying the actor “performed legendary roles and made the world dream”.

In a press release on X, previously Twitter, he added: “Melancholy, standard, secretive, he was greater than a star: he was a French monument.”

An announcement from his household stated: “Alain Fabien, Anouchka, Anthony, in addition to (his canine) Loubo, are deeply saddened to announce the passing of their father.

“He handed away peacefully in his house in Douchy, surrounded by his three kids and his household.”

Le Parisian newspaper referred to as Delon “a legend of the cinema”, whereas Liberation described him as “a number one determine of cinema, image of shadowy masculinity, the actor with loopy charisma”.

In a press release to AFP information company, Brigitte Bardot stated Delon “represented the very best of France’s ‘status cinema'”.

“An envoy of magnificence, expertise, magnificence. I lose a buddy, an alter ego, a companion.”

Delon’s final main public look was to obtain an honorary Palme d’or on the Cannes movie pageant in Might 2019.

On the occasion, he made an emotional speech through which he appeared to bid farewell to cinema.

“It is a bit of a posthumous tribute, however from my lifetime,” he stated. “I’m going to go away, however I will not go away with out thanking you.”

Former president of the Cannes pageant, Gilles Jacob, described Delon as “a lion… an actor with a steely gaze”, whereas Alberto Barbera, director of the Venice movie pageant, stated he was an “icon” who had climbed “to the Olympus of the immortals”.

For many years, the French public have adopted the ins and outs of Delon’s prolific profession and equally prolific love life, by way of Paris-Match and different magazines.

His vibrant private life frequently made the entrance pages as he charmed and seduced his approach round Europe on the peak of his fame.

However he additionally confronted criticism. Some disapproved of his help for Jean-Marie Le Pen, chief of the far-right Nationwide Entrance, who championed the loss of life penalty and opposed same-sex marriage.

His relationships with girls additionally brought about controversy and led to claims of misogyny.

Extra lately, the breakdown of his household had been making headlines in France.

The actor had three kids – two sons and a daughter – by two completely different girls, and a 3rd son unacknowledged and now lifeless.

Lately, his surviving kids have been laying naked their mutual grievances earlier than the media in a sequence of insults, accusations, lawsuits and secret recordings.

They included disagreements over his medical remedy, following his stroke in 2019.

One other row concerned Hiromi Rollin, Delon’s former housekeeper.

Delon’s kids ejected her final 12 months, however she subsequently filed a swimsuit in opposition to them for endangering Delon’s life by refusing him medicines.

In April this 12 months, a decide positioned Delon underneath “strengthened curatorship”, which means he not had full freedom to handle his property.

Delon additionally made headlines in February of this 12 months when French police seized 72 firearms and three,000 rounds of ammunition from his house. Prosecutors stated he didn’t have a gun licence.

A capturing vary was additionally discovered at his Douchy-Montcorbon mansion.

BBC Information has contacted Delon’s representatives.