This Sunday, French cinema lost one of its famous faces: Alain Delon, an essential figure of French cinema. Beyond his memorable roles, his private life remained an enigma. Indeed, it was filled with unspoken secrets and mysteries. These elements shaped his legend.
An Astonishing Passion for Weapons
Alain Delon was not only a collector of artworks but also a firearms enthusiast. His impressive collection of revolvers and rifles, carefully guarded, reveals an unexpected facet of the actor. Indeed, it shows him far from the glamorous image he conveyed on red carpets. This passion, sometimes criticized, undoubtedly symbolized a part of himself in search of power and control.
The Army and the Indochina War: A Past That Long Haunted Him
Before becoming the star we know, Delon served in the French army and was sent to Indochina. This military experience left an indelible mark on his personality. Consequently, it nourished an aura of hardness and realism. This was evident in his film roles. This past also forged his solitary and sometimes taciturn character.
An Unfinished American Dream
Although Delon tried to conquer Hollywood, his success in the United States never matched that in Europe. He did star in several American films, but his charm did not work the same way across the Atlantic. His independent character and refusal to conform to Hollywood norms likely contributed to this semi-failure.
Controversial Relationships with Underworld Figures
Throughout his life, Delon was surrounded by controversial characters, including some notable figures from the Corsican underworld. These friendships fueled persistent rumors about his ties to organized crime, although no evidence was ever provided to corroborate them. This ambiguous link with the world of crime cast a shadow over Delon’s legend, adding to his bad boy image.
Tumultuous Love Life
Delon’s love life was marked by relationships as passionate as they were conflictual. His love stories with Romy Schneider and Mireille Darc, two stars of French cinema, fascinated the public. His relationship with Romy Schneider, in particular, remains one of the most iconic, full of intensity and drama. This romance, although ended, evolved into a deep friendship before the tragic death of the great actress, whom Delon would never forget.
A Contested Paternity: The Ari Boulogne Affair
In 1962, Delon had a brief affair with the singer and actress Nico, whose real name was Christa Päffgen. German, she claimed to be Swedish and sometimes hummed Nazi songs! From this relationship was born Ari Boulogne (Christian Aaron Boulogne), whom Delon never officially recognized. Although the physical resemblance between the two men is striking, Delon always denied being Ari’s father, stating that their affair had been too short for that. Ari was raised by Delon’s mother, Edith Boulogne, but this situation caused a deep wound for Ari, who sometimes shared the syringe with Nico, his drug-addicted mother. He spent his life seeking paternal recognition but died before his illustrious presumed father.
The Influence of Luchino Visconti: A Determining Collaboration
Alain Delon had an exceptional artistic relationship with the Italian director Luchino Visconti. Their first collaboration, Rocco and His Brothers (1960), was a turning point in Delon’s career, where he demonstrated the extent of his talent. They later worked together on The Leopard (1963), a cinematic masterpiece where Delon played a complex role, that of Tancredi, which solidified his international aura. Visconti, a true mentor for Delon, instilled in him an artistic discipline and an approach to the craft that marked his career, to the point that some even speculated about a romantic relationship between the two.
A Hidden Spiritual Side
Behind the actor’s image was a man in search of spiritual meaning. Few people know, but Delon had long been interested in Buddhism and Eastern philosophies, particularly Zen. This quest for a deeper meaning in life went against the public image he cultivated. It revealed a need to reconnect with himself beyond the glitz of cinema, which he gradually abandoned from the 1980s onwards.
An Absent Father, a Childhood Wound
Delon’s youth was marked by the absence of his father. Indeed, the latter left the family when he was still a child. This childhood wound profoundly influenced his life. It fueled a certain cynicism and a constant need to assert his independence and masculinity. This feeling of abandonment also marked his relationships, sometimes making him distant or distrustful of others.
The Marković Affair: An Unresolved Scandal
The murder of Stevan Marković, former bodyguard and close associate of Delon, in 1968, shook the news in France. This Yugoslav, rumored to have had paid male adventures, was found dead in a dump. Although Delon was quickly questioned, he was never charged. This affair, with political repercussions, tarnished the actor’s image. No direct link to the crime was ever proven. The case remains a mystery, one of the many surrounding Delon’s life.
Madly Bamy: A Discreet Love Story
Among his many romantic relationships, the one with Madly Bamy, a Guadeloupean actress and model, remains little known, although Mireille Darc mentioned a ménage à trois in her memoirs. Their romance, which began after Delon’s separation from Nathalie Delon, lasted several years. The alluring Madly, seen in the film The Swimming Pool, shared Delon’s life in Douchy, but their story was marked by difficulties. Madly Bamy later lived with Jacques Brel.
A Semi-Voluntary Withdrawal
Since the 2000s, Alain Delon chose to reduce his public appearances and film roles. Disillusioned by the evolution of the world and cinema, he preferred to lead a more discreet life, away from the spotlight. Delon no longer recognized himself in the current world. Consequently, he often expressed his desire to distance himself from a universe he understood less and less.
An Unbreakable Bond with His Dogs
In 2018, Alain Delon surprised many by declaring that he wanted his dog Loubo, an 11-year-old Malinois, to be euthanized upon his death. Delon stated that if Loubo outlived him, he preferred the dog to die in his arms rather than see him suffer after his departure. This statement sparked a strong reaction from animal protection associations, including the SPA and 30 Million Friends, as well as the Bardot Foundation, which obtained a guarantee from the Delon family that Loubo, adopted by Alain Delon from this same foundation, would continue to live in the house in Douchy, in the Loiret.
Alain Delon has left this world, leaving behind an unforgettable career. Additionally, he left a life full of unresolved mysteries. His secrets, jealously guarded throughout his life, will undoubtedly fuel the fascination for this star. Thus, the interest in her will likely remain strong. Consequently, the interest in this absolute star of French cinema will remain a subject of interest for a long time.