Alain Delon: The Hollywood Heartthrob Who Lives in Seclusion
Alain Delon, once hailed as one of the most handsome men in Hollywood, now leads a very quiet life. At 88 years old, the French actor, known for his stunning looks and roles in classic films, has faded from the public eye after suffering a stroke in 2019. This health scare came just weeks after he received an honorary Palme d’Or at the Cannes Film Festival.
Delon now lives in a grand estate called La Brûlerie, hidden behind a massive stone wall stretching 2.4 miles (2.3 km). Located in the serene Loreit department of central France, near the village of Douchy-Montcorbon, his mansion is about 87 miles (140 km) southeast of Paris.
The estate is not only his home but also his final resting place. He has built a private cemetery on his property where more than thirty of his beloved dogs are buried, alongside a chapel for his own future burial.
Though Delon is based in France, he splits his time between his Douchy estate, an apartment in Geneva, and a workspace in Paris. Despite this quiet life, he’s been caught up in a public family feud.
His three children—Anthony, Alain-Fabien, and Anouchka—are fighting over their father’s health and inheritance. Their disputes have become highly publicized, attracting a lot of media attention. Christophe Ayela, Delon’s lawyer, has stepped in to mediate, urging, “It must end, and everyone must become calm. That’s enough for now.”
Adding complexity to the situation is Delon’s open favoritism toward his daughter, Anouchka. He has admitted, “I have a daughter who is the love of my life, maybe a little too much in comparison to the others.” In 2008, he declared, “I have said I love you to no other woman so often.” This favoritism might explain the strained relationships with his sons.
Anouchka has shown her devotion to her father on Instagram, sharing a heartfelt tribute with a photo of them together. She wrote in French, “Friday morning I took a picture of my dad, for myself. A remembrance of our times. Breakfast with him fills me with unending gratitude. A singularly lovely moment.” She described him as “handsome” and praised his “vivid” and “fighting” spirit, calling him her “personal eternal.”
Her post received a lot of support from fans and fellow celebrities. One fan commented, “As always, he is stunning and gorgeous. Please remain by his side; he needs you more than anybody.” French actor Gilles Marini added, “Remain near, brimming with affection. Nothing more is important.”
Even though Anouchka and her brothers have had their differences, they agree on the importance of managing their father’s financial and medical needs. Earlier this month, the siblings united to request a “reinforced curatorship” for Delon, which was granted on April 4.
This means a curator will now oversee his finances and health care. It’s not yet clear who will take on this role—whether it will be Hiromi Rollin, Delon’s “lady in waiting,” or one of his children.
Another concern is what will happen to Delon’s business, Alain Delon International Diffusion SA, where he is the president and Anouchka is the vice president. With the curatorship in place, Delon will no longer be able to make decisions for the company.
Despite these issues, Delon is more focused on the present. In a 2021 interview, he shared his desire to make one last film, hoping it will be his best yet. “In my life what I loved most was being Alain Delon, the actor Alain Delon,” he said. Reflecting on his career, he added, “Observe Purple Noon and Rocco [And His Brothers]! Every woman was enamored with me.”
Delon’s fascination with his own charm began in the 1950s. “I became aware that everybody was staring at me. Women started to inspire me. To them, I owe everything,” he said. He made it his mission to “look better than anyone else,” claiming the title of “most seductive man in cinema” by age 25.
Delon was often compared to Brigitte Bardot, another French icon of the era. Bardot, known as BB, was celebrated for her beauty and confidence. Playboy magazine even ranked her among the top female stars of the 20th century. Bardot was admired not only for her looks but also for her dedication to animal rights.
Bardot, who has been married to Bernard d’Ormale for 31 years, had a secret wedding in August 1992 with just a few close friends. Bernard has been a constant support for Bardot, especially during health issues.
When rumors surfaced in 1992 about Bardot allegedly overdosing on sedatives, Bernard quickly reassured the public, saying, “Brigitte was overwhelmed with fatigue and took too much medication to go to sleep. After a few hours, she was fine and had not had her stomach pumped.”
Years later, Bardot faced another health scare. Bernard explained that her breathing issues were due to a heatwave affecting Europe and a malfunctioning air conditioning system at their home.
Despite media reports suggesting she was in intensive care, Bardot reassured everyone with a handwritten note, saying, “I want to reassure everyone. I’m doing great right now. The disease that I contracted was a source of scandal for the press.”
Both Alain Delon and Brigitte Bardot have faced personal challenges while remaining icons of French cinema, capturing the public’s imagination with their storied lives.
