French actor Michel Piccoli has died aged 94, his family confirmed earlier today.
The legendary star is renowned for his roles in seminal New Wave films Le Mépris, Contempt and Belle De Jour.
He died “in the arms of his wife Ludivine and his children Inord and Missia after a stroke,” the family reportedly told AFP.
Piccoli, whose full name was Jacques Daniel Michel Piccoli, started his acting career in the 40s, going on to appear in over 170 films.
The Parisian star rose to fame after working with a string of legendary French directors, including Luis Bunuel, Jean-Luc Godard and Louis Malle.
(Image: AFP via Getty Images)
He appeared in six Bunuel films, including the cult classics Diary of a Chambermaid, Belle de Jour and The Discreet Charm of the Bourgeoisie.
In the 60s, his career reached new heights when Godard cast him in Contempt, starring opposite screen siren Brigette Bardot.
The New Wave film saw Piccoli play the young French playwright Paul Javal, who sees his marriage end after a grave misunderstanding.
Michel Piccoli starred opposite Brigette Bardot in the New Wave classic Contempt (Image: Corbis via Getty Images)
He swept up the award for Best Actor in 1980 at the Cannes Film Festival, thanks to his role as a judge in Marco Bellocchio’s A Leap in the Dark.
Piccoli continued acting throughout the decades that followed, with his last credited role as Michel in 2014’s Le goût des myrtilles.
Aside from acting, he was also a credited director and musician and was politically outspoken in France, famous for his activism.
The French actor appeared in over 170 films over the course of his career (Image: Corbis via Getty Images)
Married three times, Piccoli’s first marriage was to Éléonore Hirt, before he went on to wed singer Juliette Gréco.
He is survived by his third wife, Ludivine Clerc.
Since news of his death broke, tributes have been flooding in from greats of the film industry, praising his life and legacy on the screen.
Source: Celebrities - dailystar.co.uk
