Once One of the Most Handsome Men, This Hollywood Legend Lived Reclusively before His Death at 88 amid His Kids' Bitter Feud

The revered Hollywood star, who was once considered one of the most handsome men, lived a reclusive life after suffering a stroke. Amid his health scare, his kids were in a bitter feud before his death at 88.

Once celebrated as one of the most magnetic faces in cinema, the French icon captivated audiences worldwide with his piercing gaze and effortless allure. Decades after ruling the silver screen, the former heartthrob lived a quiet, withdrawn life far from the glamor that once defined him.

At some point in his career, he was even called one of the most handsome men in the world. Sadly, on August 18, 2024, his family informed the media of his passing at 88.

In their statement to AFP, they noted, "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."

Before his death, the star led a completely different life from the one he once lived under Hollywood's spotlight. The "Flic Story" talent lived reclusively in his home after tragically suffering a stroke in 2019. This occurred a few weeks after he received an honorary Palme d'Or in Cannes, France.

Sitting behind a grand stone wall that spans 1.4 miles (2.3km), his house boasted a sprawling estate called La Brûlerie. It is located 86.99 miles (140km) southeast of Paris, near the village of Douchy-Montcorbon in the Loiret department of central France.

More than just his home, according to sources, this is where the silver screen legend desired to be buried, close to a chapel situated on the grounds of a cemetery he built. This cemetery is the resting place for over 30 of his beloved hounds.

Although his home base is in France, reports state that the recluse used to split his time between his workspace in Paris, his apartment in Geneva, and his home in Douchy.

Aside from planning his burial grounds, the French heartthrob dealt with a contentious familial issue. Three of his children were at war with each other.

His two sons and daughter had public disputes, threw around accusations, and pursued legal actions, all based on their father and his assets. As a result of their public squabbles, the actor's children garnered a lot of media attention.

Things got so bad that their dad's lawyer, Christophe Ayela, attempted to foster a truce between them. "It has to stop and everyone needs to calm down. That's enough now," chastised Christophe.

Adding another layer of complexity to the familial tension is the fact that the "Purple Noon" actor, whose children confirm, was aware of their dispute and had made it abundantly clear that he had a favorite child.

"I have a daughter who is the love of my life, perhaps a little too much with regard to the others," he previously confessed.

"To no other woman have I so often said I love you," he professed in 2008. Based on these statements and other observations, eagle-eyed spectators suggest that perhaps the father's strained relationship with his sons, who are also both actors, stemmed from his viewing them as rivals.

Like her doting dad, the actor's daughter has also publicized her deep love for her father. She once took to Instagram to post a loving tribute to him, which also gave fans an update on how the actor was doing.

Alongside a picture of her dad, she penned a heartfelt message written in French. The English translation of that caption reads, "Friday morning I took a picture of my dad. For me. A memory of our times. Having breakfast with him makes me feel endlessly grateful. Unique moment of sweetness."

She then went on to describe his appearance, calling him "handsome," and highlighting his "vivid" and "fighting" spirit. "My own immortal," she wrote.

"I showed him the picture [...] I asked him if I could share it with you, his audience that cares about him. So with his permission there it is. And to your worries he answers: 'Don't worry.' ❤️ #love," the actor's daughter finished.

The iconic French Casanova, whom fans have been worried about and who lived reclusively, is none other than the late Alain Delon. In response to his daughter, Anouchka Delon's, Instagram post, Alain's admirers took to the Instagram comment section to express their feelings.

"He is beautiful and lovely as always, please be [by] his side, he needs you more than anyone, I know you love your daddy, and care [about] him too much 😘😘😘," gushed a fan. Similarly, fellow French actor Gilles Marini expressed, "Stay close. ❤️ Full of love. Nothing else matter. ❤️❤️."

Although Anouchka and her brothers, Anthony and Alain-Fabien Delon, have not been seeing eye-to-eye, one thing they agreed on was ensuring that their father's well-being and finances were taken care of.

Earlier in April 2024, a French news outlet reported that Alain's kids united in March to request that their dad be placed under a "reinforced curatorship." This move comes after Alain had already been placed under judicial protection for "medical monitoring."

As of April 4, 2024, the report stated that their request was approved. This meant that a curator would be appointed as the overseer of Alain's finances and would essentially act on his behalf concerning issues related to his assets and, in some cases, his medical requirements.

There is also the question of what will happen to Alain's company, Alain Delon International Diffusion SA, of which he is the President and Anouchka is the Vice President. Since the request for the curatorship has been granted, Alain will no longer be permitted to exercise decisions in that capacity.

Nonetheless, instead of fussing over the details, Alain was focused on his present and future. In a 2021 interview, he divulged his desire to make one last movie, a film he was certain could become his best work yet.

Closing off the interview, the "Borsalino" star disclosed, "in my life what I loved most was being Alain Delon, the actor Alain Delon."

"Look at Rocco [And His Brothers], look at Purple Noon! The women were all obsessed with me. From when I was 18 till when I was 50," Alain previously said of himself as an alluring actor.

During an outing with a friend to Saint-Germain-des-Prés in the '50s, it was when Alain reportedly first noticed the effect he had on women. "I realised that everyone was looking at me. Women became my motivation. I owe them everything. They were the ones who inspired me to look better than anyone else," stated Alain.

Alain made it his priority to "look better than anyone else," so much so that he took the title of the "most seductive man in cinema" at 25 years old and was even deemed to be the male version of Brigitte Bardot. The French icon is well-known as one of the biggest "It" girls in cinematic history.

She is recognized and revered for the iconic roles she has played in numerous silver-screen productions. Playboy, known for its features and displays of beautiful, famous women, had given the French blonde beauty a top spot as one of the sexiest female stars of the 20th century.

Other media outlets even deem her the number one "It" girl of all time. Concerning her alluring beauty, Brigitte is also typically known for her famous pouty lips, and according to Playboy's sexiest female star list, she came in at number four.

Her sultry confidence and sensual charisma also saw her be labeled as her home country's most gazed-upon star. Apart from the success she garnered during her time as an actress and all-around entertainer, Brigitte has also built a reputation as an avid animal rights activist.

As far as her personal life is concerned, the beloved star, commonly referred to by her nickname BB, is a mother of one and has been married to her husband, Bernard d'Ormale, for 31 years. According to media outlets, the couple tied the knot in secret in August of 1992, with only a few friends joining them for their special day.

The two have remained blissfully married since then, and when they first wed, Brigitte's friends told a news outlet that the "Contempt" star was happier than she had been in a while thanks to her sudden and secret marriage with Bernard.

Interestingly, before the two wed, Brigitte's friends had expressed doubt that she would remarry after her last husband. Nonetheless, the two wed in a quaint little wooden church in Norway and lived together in Brigitte's luxury 10-bedroom mansion in Saint-Tropez.

From the time they first met, Bernard has remained by Brigitte's side, especially throughout her health scares. When French newspapers first reported that their beloved celebrity had allegedly overdosed on sedatives in 1992 while at home, Brigitte's knight in shining armor quickly reassured the very worried public that she was ok.

He explained, "Brigitte was overcome with fatigue and took too much medication to go to sleep...she did not have her stomach pumped and was fine after a few hours."

A spokesperson for the clinic where Brigitte was taken further confirmed Bernard's assertion that his wife was fine. However, years after her sedative scare, Brigitte faced another health battle.

In 2023, Bernard confirmed that Brigitte experienced difficulty breathing. Luckily, first responders quickly intervened, provided her oxygen, and stayed with her for a while to ensure she was okay.

Bernard explained that the cause of his wife's respiratory problems was age-related and weather-related, citing an extreme heatwave circulating in Europe at that time. Apparently, the air conditioning system in their La Madrague home was not functioning optimally.

Despite assuring the public of Brigitte's well-being, a news outlet had alleged that she had stayed in the ICU. However, the "A Very Private Affair" talent set the record straight via a handwritten note: "I want to reassure everyone. I am doing very well. The press caused a scandal with an illness that happened to me..."