French cinema legend Jean-Paul Belmondo has died aged 88

French cinema legend Jean-Paul Belmondo has died at the age of 88, his lawyer told AFP on Monday (September 6th).

His lawyer revealed he had been ill for some time after suffering a stroke in 2001.

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Belmondo’s health deteriorated further in 2001 when he suffered a stroke and was taken to a hospital in Paris. He was partially paralyzed by a stroke and had to relearn how to walk and speak.

He then took a break from acting but returned to the big screen in 2009 with the film A Man and his Dog. It turned out to be his last film and was poorly received by critics. Belmondo later apologized for the job, but said it helped him cope with the lingering effects of the stroke.

His lawyer, Michel Godist, said the actor died at his home in Paris. “He was very tired for a while. He died quietly.”

The charismatic actor rose to fame after playing Michel Boicard in the 1960 film Breathless, directed by Jean-Luc Godard, and became a central figure in New Wave cinema in France.

He is also known for his roles in crime dramas and thrillers, starring in melodramas with Romy Schneider and Alain Delon, as well as being one of France’s leading comedy and action heroes.

During his career, he was nominated twice at the British Academy Film Awards (BAFTA), as best actor for “Léon Morin, prêtre” in 1961 and “Pierrot le fou” in 1965. He won the Lion d gold in 2016.

Source: RT

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