French actor Alain Delon has died at the age of 88 following a period of ill health, his family has announced.
The iconic star was renowned for his roles in classic films such as Purple Noon in 1960, The Leopard in 1963 and Le Samourai in 1967.
A family statement said: "Alain Fabien, Anouchka, Anthony, as well as (his dog) Loubo, are deeply saddened to announce the passing of their father.
"He passed away peacefully in his home in Douchy, surrounded by his three children and his family."
Delon died "very early in the middle of the night", the statement said.
Delon had been in declining health since suffering a stroke in 2019, rarely venturing from his estate in Douchy, located in France's Val de Loire region. His last significant public appearance was at the Cannes Film Festival in May 2019, where he received an honorary Palme d'or.
Known for his striking blue eyes, Delon was often dubbed the "French Frank Sinatra" due to his handsome features, a comparison he disliked.
His influence extended beyond France, with renowned directors like Martin Scorsese, Quentin Tarantino, and Hong Kong's John Woo acknowledging the impact of his performance as the silent assassin in Jean-Pierre Melville's Le Samourai.
While Delon achieved immense stardom in France and Japan, his success in Hollywood was more limited, despite appearing alongside American cinema greats such as Burt Lancaster in the 1973 film Scorpio.
Off-screen, Delon was known for his controversial views, including expressing regret over the abolition of the death penalty and speaking critically of same-sex marriage, which became legal in France in 2013.
