French film giant Alain Delon dies aged 88

Brigitte Bardot paid tribute to her friend and co-star Alain Delon

French film legend Alain Delon has died at the age of 88.

The actor was a star of the golden era of French cinema, known for his tough-guy persona on screen in hits including The Samurai and Borsalino.

Delon had been in poor health in recent years and had become a virtual recluse. More recently, the breakdown of his family had made headlines in France.

Brigitte Bardot led tributes in France saying Delon's death left a "huge void that nothing and no-one will be able to fill".

Once described as the most beautiful man in the movies, Delon starred in hits from the 1960s including The Leopard and Rocco and his Brothers.

He stole the hearts of fans whatever role he was playing, from a murderer to a charismatic conman.

From the 1990s, his film appearances grew rare, but he remained a fixture in the celebrity columns.

In total, he made almost 90 films during the course of his career.

French President Emmanuel Macron was among those paying tribute to Delon on Sunday, saying the actor “played legendary roles and made the world dream”.

In a statement on X, formerly Twitter, he added: "Melancholy, popular, secretive, he was more than a star: he was a French monument."

Alain Delon was one of French cinema's biggest stars of the 1960s

A statement from his family 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."

Le Parisian newspaper called Delon “a legend of the cinema”, while Liberation described him as “a leading figure of cinema, symbol of shadowy masculinity, the actor with crazy charisma”.

In a statement to AFP news agency, Brigitte Bardot said Delon "represented the best of France's 'prestige cinema'".

"An ambassador of elegance, talent, beauty. I lose a friend, an alter ego, a partner."

Delon's last major public appearance was to receive an honorary Palme d'or at the Cannes film festival in May 2019.

At the event, he made an emotional speech in which he appeared to bid farewell to cinema.

"It's a bit of a posthumous tribute, but from my lifetime," he said. "I am going to leave, but I won't leave without thanking you."

Former president of the Cannes festival, Gilles Jacob, described Delon as "a lion... an actor with a steely gaze", while Alberto Barbera, director of the Venice film festival, said he was an "icon" who had climbed "to the Olympus of the immortals".

Alain Delon at the height of his fame

Alain Delon at the 72nd annual Cannes Film Festival in 2019

For decades, the French public have followed the ins and outs of Delon’s prolific career and equally prolific love life, via Paris-Match and other magazines.

His colourful personal life regularly made the front pages as he charmed and seduced his way around Europe at the height of his fame.

But he also faced criticism. Some disapproved of his support for Jean-Marie Le Pen, leader of the far-right National Front, who championed the death penalty and opposed same-sex marriage.

His relationships with women also caused controversy and led to claims of misogyny.

More recently, the breakdown of his family had been making headlines in France.

The actor had three children - two sons and a daughter - by two different women, and a third son unacknowledged and now dead.

In recent years, his surviving children have been laying bare their mutual grievances before the media in a series of insults, accusations, lawsuits and secret recordings.

They included disagreements over his medical treatment, following his stroke in 2019.

Another row involved Hiromi Rollin, Delon's former housekeeper.

Delon’s children ejected her last year, but she subsequently filed a suit against them for endangering Delon's life by refusing him medicines.

Tributes have been left outside the actor's property in Douchy

In April this year, a judge placed Delon under "reinforced curatorship", meaning he no longer had full freedom to manage his assets.

Delon also made headlines in February of this year when French police seized 72 firearms and 3,000 rounds of ammunition from his home. Prosecutors said he did not have a gun licence.

A shooting range was also found at his Douchy-Montcorbon mansion.

BBC News has contacted Delon’s representatives.