Alain Delon (born 8 November, 1935) is a French actor, one of the best known outside his native country. Delon’s star rose quickly, and by the age of twenty-three he was garnering comparisons to French screen legends such as Gérard Philipe and Jean Marais, as well as American actor James Dean. He was even called the male Brigitte Bardot. Not wanting to fall back on his looks, Delon tried to take roles that presented him with more of a challenge. In particular he took parts playing a thief or gangster. One of the remarkable qualities about Delon’s performances is that despite the immorality of many of the characters he plays, he manages to make them charming, and even likeable. Over the course of his career, Delon has worked with legendary directors, including Luchino Visconti, Jean-Luc Godard, Jean-Pierre Melville, Michaelangelo Antonioni, and Louis Malle.

Youth

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Delon was born in Sceaux, a Paris suburb, on November 8, 1935. His parents, Fabien and Édith, divorced when Delon was young. Both remarried, and Delon has a half-sister, and two half-brothers.He attended a Catholic boarding school, the first of several schools from which he was expelled, due to unruly behavior. Despite this behavior he was more than competent as a student. Teachers once tried to convince him to enter the priesthood due to his aptitude in religious studies.

At fourteen Delon left school, and worked for a brief time at his stepfather's butcher shop. He enlisted in the army three years later, and in 1953 was sent to fight in Indo-China. Delon has said that out of his five years of military service he spent 11 months in prison for being "undisciplined." After being dishonorably discharged from the army he returned to Paris. He had no money, and got by on whatever employment he could find. He spent time working as a waiter, a porter, and a sales clerk. During this time he became friends with the actress Brigitte Auber, and joined her on a trip to the Cannes Film Festival, where his film career would begin.

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