Emily in Paris star Pierre Deny, who appeared in seasons three and four as Louis de Léon, CEO of the fictional fashion house JVMA, has died. The actor died after a ‘sudden and severe’ battle with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) at the age of 69.
‘It is with deep emotion that we announce the passing of Pierre Deny, which occurred this Monday following a sudden and severe case of ALS,’ the actor’s daughters wrote in a statement on 27 May. ALS is a progressive neurodegenerative disease that affects nerve cells in the brain and spinal cord. There is no known cure.
Deny’s character in the hit Netflix show was also the father of Nicholas de Léon, played by Paul Forman, who dated Emily’s (Lily Collins) best friend Mindy Chen, who is played by Ashley Park.
It is unclear when Deny was diagnosed with ALS, or whether he was scheduled to appear in season six, but his death comes just one week after Collins announced production on the sixth and final season had begun. ‘Annnnd we’re back – for the last time,’ she wrote on Instagram. ‘@emilyinparis takes on Greece (and of course France) for one final, epic adventure. Let’s make it the most incredibly special season yet!’
At the time of writing, the lead cast have not yet responded to news of Deny’s death. However, Forman, who plays Deny’s on-screen son, posted on his Instagram Story to say: ‘Heartbroken to hear of the passing of Pierre Deny. It was a privilege to work alongside him and to witness his warmth and talent up close. Thinking of his family and loved ones. Rest in peace.’
As well as his role in Emily in Paris, Deny was known in France for starring in Five Sisters, A Woman of Honour, New Maud, Life is Beautiful and for playing Dr. Renuad Dumaze in more than 500 episodes of the French soap opera, Tomorrow is Ours, between 2017 and 2023. His co-star Luce Mouchel shared a tribute on Instagram, which translated says: ‘Pierre, seven years of filming together, taking the train together, having lunch together in the cafeteria, sometimes confiding in each other, occasionally inviting each other over and congratulating you on your hidden talent as a cook, introducing our daughters, going to applaud each other at the theatre, habitually calling each other ‘doctor’, and so much more.
‘A little under a decade of shared life that shouldn’t have ended so quickly and so brutally. I’m thinking of your daughters and their exceptional courage. I’m thinking of you, of my last visit and your sparkling eyes. Rest in peace, Dr. Dumaze.’
One of Deny’s theatre co-stars, Sylvie Vartan, who acted alongside him in a play in 2015, also wrote: ‘So sad to hear of the passing of Pierre Deny. I shared some great moments with him on stage in Isabelle Mergault’s play. He was a generous actor and a sensitive and funny man.’
Sadly, Deny’s passing is not the first time the production of Emily in Paris has been marred by tragedy. Season five ended with a blank title card that read, ‘In memory of Diego Borella’, who was a local Italian assistant director, 47, who collapsed during preparations for a final scene at Hotel Danieli in Venice, Italy, last summer. The show briefly halted filming following his death.
‘We are deeply saddened to confirm the sudden passing of a member of the Emily in Paris production family,’ a spokesperson for Paramount Television Studios told Us in a statement. ‘Our hearts go out to the individual’s family and loved ones during this incredibly difficult time.’
The sixth and final season of Emily in Paris is expected to arrive later this year. Past seasons have landed on Netflix between August and December.
