French Actor Alain Delon Dies Aged 88, But Who Was the ‘French Frank Sinatra’?
French actor Alain Delon, known for his striking blue eyes and handsome looks, has died at the age of 88. Delon was often referred to as the ‘French Frank Sinatra’ due to his charming on-screen presence, but he disliked the comparison. Unlike Sinatra, who always denied connections with the Mafia, Delon openly acknowledged his shady pals in the underworld.
In a 1970 interview with the New York Times, Delon was asked about his acquaintances, one of whom was among the last ‘Godfathers’ of the underworld in the Mediterranean port of Marseille. Delon replied, ‘Most of them, the gangsters I know… were my friends before I became an actor. I don’t worry about what a friend does. Each is responsible for his own act. It doesn’t matter what he does.’
Delon shot to fame in two films by Italian director Luchino Visconti, ‘Rocco and His Brothers’ in 1960 and ‘The Leopard’ in 1963. He also starred alongside venerable French elder Jean Gabin in Henri Verneuil’s 1963 film ‘Melodie en Sous-Sol’ (‘Any Number Can Win’) and was a major hit in Jean-Pierre Melville’s 1967 ‘Le Samourai’ (‘The Godson’).
The King Axes Andrew’s Private Security Team
In other news, the King has axed the Duke of York’s private security team, according to reports. Andrew’s private security have been privately funded by Charles after he lost publicly-funded police protection in 2022. Members of the security detail have been told their services will not be needed from November.
A palace insider told The Sun, ‘Everyone is speculating this means the duke will have to leave the Royal Lodge because what other reason could there be to take his security away?’
Sources added, ‘It isn’t a secret that the King wants him out.’
Pressure on Andrew continues to mount after the unsealing of hundreds of pages of court documents connected to the Jeffrey Epstein scandal. Earlier this year, it was reported Andrew refused an offer to move out of Royal Lodge into nearby Frogmore Cottage.
Richard Kennar’s Season-Ending Ban Caps Horror Week at Souths
In sports news, South Sydney centre Richard Kennar is facing a three-match ban for a high tackle on Wests Tigers rookie Luke Laulilii. The ban caps a horror week for the Rabbitohs, who have had to contend with Latrell Mitchell’s white powder scandal and an 18-16 loss to the last-placed Tigers in the past seven days.
If he enters an early guilty plea to his grade-two careless high tackle charge, repeat offender Kennar will miss the remaining three games of the 15th-placed Rabbitohs’ season. Kennar could also sit out round one next year if he unsuccessfully challenges the charge at the judiciary.
The French actor Alain Delon poses before receiving his honorary Palme d’Or Award at the 72nd Cannes Film Festival in 2019.
The Duke of York arriving ahead of the coronation ceremony.
South Sydney centre Richard Kennar facing a three-match ban for a high tackle on Wests Tigers rookie Luke Laulilii.
