‘Emily in Paris’ actor Pierre Deny dies following severe case of ALS
Decades-long career in France included 300 episodes on daytime drama
Written by |
- French actor Pierre Deny died from a sudden and severe case of ALS.
- Deny is best known internationally for his role on Netflix's "Emily in Paris."
- The disease typically progresses quickly, leading to death within a few years.
French actor Pierre Deny, known for his role in the Netflix streaming series “Emily in Paris,” has died from amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) at age 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,” his daughters said in a statement to the French news service AFP.
Deny is perhaps best known internationally for his role as Louis de Léon, the CEO of a fictional fashion company called JVMA, on the Netflix show. But he also starred in dozens of French television shows and films over a decades-long career that began in the late 1970s and continued until recently, per his IMDB page.
He had recurring parts on several shows that ran in the 1990s, 2000s, and 2010s. Among other roles, he appeared in more than 300 episodes of the French daytime drama “Tomorrow is Ours” from 2017 to 2023.
Luce Mouchel, his longtime co-star on the drama show, reflected on “a little over a decade of shared life that shouldn’t have ended so quickly and so brutally” in an Instagram post written in French. “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.”
Deny’s last screen appearance was in an episode of the French comedy series “Camping Paradise” in 2025.
‘A generous actor and a sensitive and funny man’
In an Instagram post, French actress and singer Sylvie Vartan described Deny as “a generous actor and a sensitive and funny man.” Vartan played alongside Deny in Isabelle Margault’s stage play “Ne Me Regardez Pas Comme Ca” in 2015, and in her post, she said she shared “some great moments with him on stage.”
“So sad to hear of the passing of Pierre Deny. … My thoughts are with his family and loved ones at this painful time,” Vartan wrote.
ALS is a neurological disorder in which motor neurons, the nerve cells that control movement, become progressively damaged and die. The disease is almost always fatal and usually progresses very quickly. Most people with ALS do not survive more than a few years after the onset of the disease.
Deny is the second well-known screen actor to die from ALS this year. In February, Eric Dane – known for roles on ABC’s “Grey’s Anatomy” and HBO’s “Euphoria” — died from the disease at age 53.
A few other celebrities have also recently gone public about living with ALS. Earlier this month, Russell Andrews, an actor known for his roles in “Straight Outta Compton” and “Better Call Saul,” announced he was diagnosed with ALS in 2025, as did Jenny Slatten, who starred on TLC’s “90 Day Fiancé: The Other Way.”
Leave a comment
Fill in the required fields to post. Your email address will not be published.