Legendary Ladies’ Man Alain Delon Draws 1,000 Women to Haneda Airport Amid Bodyguard Shooting Incident

“I follow his lead. If he told me to stop acting, I would. Living with him is my joy. I live giving him all of myself.”

It was impressive how she confessed her ultimate “love for Delon.”

When actress Sydney Rome, who starred with Delon in The Private Life (1974), visited Japan for a film promotion and was asked about Delon’s charm, she said:

“He has a magnetic allure. It seems to affect not only women but also men. There are always male fans surrounding him.”

She revealed the “Delon legend” that he was not only popular with women but also with men.

The 15th anniversary party of Mifune Productions was held grandly at a hotel in Tokyo, with Delon in attendance. At the party, a booklet titled Special Edition on Alain Delon, published by the Unifrance Films Japan Office, was distributed to attendees. The interview article with Delon inside the booklet drew significant attention.

The article discussed the incident in October 1968 that threatened Delon’s acting career: the murder of his bodyguard. It recounted how Delon had been questioned by authorities in connection with the case.

Stefan Markovich, who had been Delon’s bodyguard until January of that year, was found shot dead in a public trash bin near Versailles. A mafia figure, Marcantoni, who was rumored to be close to Delon, was arrested as a suspect. Delon was questioned as an important witness. The investigation was difficult, and Marcantoni was released while Delon was not indicted. The investigation concluded without identifying a clear suspect.

Delon’s candid comments about the incident were shocking at the time.

“It seems many people wanted to see me in handcuffs. Perhaps they wanted to destroy the idol they had created with their own hands. Paris is a city filled with malice.” (Special Edition on Alain Delon)

 

“But I recovered. I take pride in having emerged from that dreadful incident without compromising my professional stance. Five years later, my films have been more successful in attracting audiences than before the incident.” (Same)

 

Having overcome the incident and made a comeback, Delon solidified his status as a top star with numerous hits, including The Sicilian (1969), co-starring with Jean Gabin, Borsalino (1970), with Jean-Paul Belmondo, the action film Zorro (1975), where he played the legendary hero, and The Lights of Paris (1976).

 

Delon left behind many masterpieces and hits, making headlines with his glamorous romantic escapades and captivating both through his works and his life. He was a legendary film star, known as the “handsome man of the century.”