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Getty Images<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\nFrench film legend Alain Delon has died at the age of 88.<\/b><\/p>\n The actor was a star of the golden era of French cinema, known for his tough-guy persona on screen in hits including The Samurai and Borsalino.<\/p>\n “He passed away peacefully in his home in Douchy, surrounded by his three children and his family,” a statement released to AFP news agency said.<\/p>\n Delon has been in poor health in recent years and become a virtual recluse. More recently, the breakdown of his family had been making headlines in France. <\/p>\n<\/div>\n Once described as the most beautiful man in the movies, Delon starred in hits from the 1960s including The Leopard and Rocco and his Brothers.<\/p>\n From the 1990s, his film appearances grew rare, but he remained a fixture in the celebrity columns.<\/p>\n In total, he appeared in more than 90 films during the course of his career. <\/p>\n A statement from his family said: “Alain Fabien, Anouchka, Anthony, as well as (his dog) Loubo, are deeply saddened to announce the passing of their father. <\/p>\n “He passed away peacefully in his home in Douchy, surrounded by his three children and his family.”<\/p>\n Le Parisian newspaper called Delon \u201ca legend of the cinema\u201d, while Liberation described him as \u201ca leading figure of cinema, symbol of shadowy masculinity, the actor with crazy charisma\u201d.<\/p>\n Delon’s last major public appearance was to receive an honorary Palme d’or at the Cannes film festival in May 2019.<\/p>\n At the event, he made an emotional speech in which he appeared to bid farewell to cinema.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n More recently, the breakdown of his family had been making headlines in France. <\/p>\n His three children had laid their mutual grievances before the media in a series of insults, accusations, lawsuits and secret recordings.<\/p>\n It included disagreements over his medical treatment.<\/p>\n In April this year, a judge placed Delon under “reinforced curatorship”, meaning he no longer had full freedom to manage his assets. <\/p>\n Delon also made headlines in February of this year when French police seized 72 firearms and 3,000 rounds of ammunition from his home. Prosecutors said he did not have a gun licence. <\/p>\n A shooting range was also found at his Douchy-Montcorbon mansion. <\/p>\n BBC News has contacted Delon\u2019s representatives.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n![](\"https:\/\/www.bbc.com\/bbcx\/grey-placeholder.png\")
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