Legendary French actor Alain Delon has died at the age of 88. The movie icon, who starred in such films as The Leopard (1963), Le Clan des Siciliens (The Sicilian Clan - 1969) and Rocco and His Brothers (1960), also held Swiss citizenship having lived for many years in Switzerland.
In 2012, Delon was the second person to receive the Lifetime Achievement Award at the Locarno Film Festival in southern Switzerland, which was followed by an honorary Palme d’Or at the Cannes Film Festival seven years later.
The actor, born in Hauts-de-Seine near Paris in 1935, also attracted controversy during his career and was rumoured to have had links with organised crime gangs.
Delon settled in Switzerland in 1985, in a villa in the municipality of Chêne-Bougeries, canton Geneva, according to Swiss public broadcaster SRF. In 1999, the local council voted to grant him nautralised Swiss citizenship, and he took the oath the following year.
In 2019, Delon was treated in a Swiss clinic after suffering a stroke and continued to receive treatment in Switzerland over the last few years as his health further deteriorated.
In January, a French court issued a legal protection order for the ailing Delon amid a dispute among his children over the course of his treatment.
The dispute revolved around the question of whether the actor should spend his retirement in his residence in France or move to Switzerland, where his daughter Anouchka lives – and where inheritance tax is likely to be lower, according to media reports.
Delon “died peacefully in his house in Douchy [France], surrounded by his three children and his family,” according to a statement from his family on Sunday.
SWI swissinfo/mga
Popular Stories
More
Swiss Abroad
Aussie adoptee gains Swiss citizenship at 54 thanks to old envelope
Basel diocese files five claims of sexual abuse in Swiss Catholic Church
This content was published on
The diocese of Basel has received 141 reports of sexual abuse since the publication of a sweeping study on violations in the Catholic Church by the University of Zurich in 2023.
Swiss president calls for open markets and stable institutions in WEF speech
This content was published on
Swiss President Karin Keller-Sutter was among speakers at the WEF in Davos to make the case for fair competition, a day after Donald Trump became the 47th president of the United States.
Swiss film in competition at the 75th Berlinale has a shot at Golden Bear
This content was published on
The feature film La Cache by Lausanne screenwriter and director Lionel Baier has a chance of winning the Silver or Golden Bear at the 75th Berlinale, festival organisers said on Tuesday.
Swiss politician who shot at image of Jesus resigns from Liberal Green Party
This content was published on
Sanija Ameti, who caused controversy after shooting at an image of Jesus and Mary last September, has resigned from the Liberal Green Party.
Swiss campaigners gather enough signatures to submit ‘responsible business’ initiative
This content was published on
The Swiss people are set to vote again on the corporate responsibility of multinationals after campaigners collected 183,661 signatures in 14 days for their new 'responsible business' initiative.
Several Swiss municipalities and banks hit by cyberattack
This content was published on
Russian hackers attacked the websites of several Swiss municipalities and banks on Tuesday, just as the World Economic Forum (WEF), got under way in Davos.
Music strengthens brain connections in premature babies, Swiss study shows
This content was published on
In premature babies, music strengthens connections in certain areas of the brain, according to a years-long study by the University Hospitals of Geneva (HUG).
WEF gives Crystal Award to Beckham, Yamamoto and von Fürstenberg
This content was published on
The World Economic Forum in Davos handed out awards to UNICEF ambassador David Beckham, Japanese architect Riken Yamamoto and women's rights activist Diane von Fürstenberg.
Swiss CEOs betting on a strong domestic market in 2025
This content was published on
Swiss business leaders are optimistic about 2025, despite a world in crisis, says a new survey by Pricewaterhouse Coopers.
This content was published on
Economics Minister Guy Parmelin and Foreign Minister Ignazio Cassis have welcomed Chinese Vice Premier Ding Xuexiang to Bern
You can find an overview of ongoing debates with our journalists here . Please join us!
If you want to start a conversation about a topic raised in this article or want to report factual errors, email us at english@swissinfo.ch.