Who Are Those Guys ~ Alain Delon

 

Born Alain Fabien Maurice Marcel Delon on Nov. 8, 1935, in Sceaux, outside of Paris, France, he was the son of Fabien Delon, and his wife, Edith. His parents divorced when Delon was four, and subsequently remarried. The turmoil in his home was reflected in his schooling. An unruly student, Delon was expelled from six schools by the time he was a teenager. He eventually left school altogether at age 14 to work at his stepfather's butcher shop before enlisting in the French Navy, where he served in the First Indochina War. His rebellious nature got the better of him, and he spent 11 months of his four-year stint in a military prison for lack of discipline. Delon was dishonorably discharged in 1956 and returned to France to work a series of menial jobs. While in Marseilles, he became friendly with actor Jean-Claude Brialy, who invited Delon to join him at the 1957 Cannes Film Festival. There, his striking good looks attracted the attention of numerous producers and talent scouts, among them allegedly a representative of "Gone with the Wind" (1939) producer David O. Selznick, who offered a multi-picture deal, provided that he learn English. Delon returned to Paris, where he met director Yves Allégret, who gave him his first screen role in "Quand la femme s'en mêle" ("When the Woman Butts In") (1957) as a young hit man hired to kill the rival of a club owner (Jean Servais), a felicitous bit of casting that would echo throughout Delon's career. Delon earned his first leading role in "Christine" (1958), as a young soldier who fell in love with an innocent (Romy Schneider) while involved in a scandalous affair with the wife of a commanding officer. Delon and Schneider became an off-screen couple as well, going on to announce their engagement in 1959.

Delon went on to become one of Europe's most prominent actors and screen sex symbols in the 1960s, 1970s and 1980s. In 1985, he won the César Award for Best Actor for his performance in Notre histoire. In 1991.

Though his movies declined in favor in the 1980s, Delon made a comeback in the popular television miniseries ‘Fabio Montale’ (2002) and ‘Frank Riva’ (2003–04). He played Julius Caesar in the successful film comedy “Astérix aux jeux olympiques” (2008; Asterix at the Olympic Games) and continued acting throughout the next decade. Delon was made an Officer in the French Legion of Honor in 2005 for his contributions to cinema.

Delon appeared in two Euro-westerns: “Red Sun” in 1971 as Gotch ‘Gauche’ Kink with Charles Bronson and Toshirô Mifune and in 1975 as Don Diego de la Vega/Miguel Eloretta/El Zorro in “Zorro”.

Delon also appeared in one American western "Texas Across the River" in 1966 which also featured French actress Tina Aumont.

DELON, Alain (aka A. Delon) (Alain Fabien Maurice Marcel Delon) [11/8/1935, Sceaux, Seine, Île-de-France, France -     ] – producer, director, writer, film, TV actor, singer, half-brother of assistant director, actor Jean-François Delon, father of  actor Christian Päffgen (Christian Aaron Päffgen) [1962-2023] with writer, composer, actress, singer Nico (Christa Päffgen) [1938–1988], married to Nathalie Delon (Francine Canovas) [1941-2021] (1964-1969) father of actor, singer Anthony Delon [1964-    ], father of Anouchka Delon [1990-    ], Alain-Fabien Delon [1994-    ] with actress Rosalie van Breemen [1966-    ], grandfather of actress Alyson Le Borges [1986-    ].

awarded French Legion of Honor [2005].

Western Star – 1964 [Film was never made.]

Red Sun – 1971 (Gotch ‘Gauche’ Kink)

Zorro – 1975 (Don Diego de la Vega/Miguel Eloretta/El Zorro)