Entertainment world mourns loss of veteran French actor Pierre Dénydied at age 69 following a battle with ALS.
The actor, most recently known for his role in NetflixIt is “Emilie in Paris“, died just a few months later”Grey’s Anatomy” star Eric Dane also succumbed to this devastating disease.
Deny’s death has sparked an outpouring of tributes from colleagues and friends who remember him not only as a talented artist, but also as a warm and deeply generous presence behind the scenes.
Pierre Deny’s role in “Emily In Paris” introduced him to global audiences
Actor Pierre Deny died this Monday, May 25, 2026, at the age of 69, following a severe illness. An essential face of the small screen and an actor appreciated by the general public, this father of two daughters made himself famous through his notable roles in numerous… pic.twitter.com/bRdSIN83jR
– Claire Langoulant – Legitimist Royalist (@ClaireRoya14724) May 26, 2026
Pierre Deny became familiar to Netflix viewers thanks to his appearances in seasons 3 and 4 of “Emily in Paris.”
The French actor played Louis de Léon, CEO of fashion company JVMA and father of Nicholas de Leon, played by Paul Forman.
Her character became intertwined with the storyline involving Ashley Park’s Mindy Chen, who dated Nicholas during the series.
Deny’s death was confirmed Monday by his daughters, who revealed that the actor died from complications related to amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, also known as ALS.
“It is with deep emotion that we announce the death of Pierre Deny, which occurred this Monday following a sudden and serious case of ALS,” the family said in a statement. Daily Mail.
ALS is a progressive disease of the nervous system that attacks nerve cells in the brain and spinal cord, eventually leading to paralysis and loss of muscle control. According to the Mayo Clinic, there is currently no cure for this disease.
Deny has received praise throughout his long television career
Long before joining Netflix’s glamorous series Paris, Pierre Deny had become a respected figure on French television.
He appeared in more than 500 episodes of the soap opera “Tomorrow Belongs to Us,” gaining a loyal fan base over the years.
Following the news of his death, several co-stars and colleagues shared emotional tributes online. The Franco-Bulgarian singer and actress Sylvie Vartan looks back on the moments they shared on stage.
“It is with great sadness that I learned of the death of Pierre Deny,” she wrote on Instagram. “I shared many wonderful moments with him on stage in Isabelle Mergault’s play.
She went on to describe the actor as “a generous actor and a sensitive and funny man” before offering her condolences to his family and loved ones.
Luce Mouchel, Deny’s co-star in “Tomorrow Belongs to Us,” also posted a long, moving message remembering their years together on set.
“Pierre, 7 years of filming together, taking the train together, eating lunch together in the canteen,” she wrote.
Pierre Deny’s co-stars remember his kindness and humor
Luce Mouchel’s tribute gave fans a deeper picture of the friendship she shared with Deny during nearly a decade of working side by side.
“Sometimes we confide in each other, we invite each other over from time to time and we congratulate each other for our hidden talent as a cook, we meet our daughters, we applaud at the theater, we usually call each other ‘Doctor’, and I forget,” she continued.
Mouchel admitted that Deny’s death had been painfully sudden. “A short decade of shared life that should not have ended so quickly and so brutally,” she revealed.
She also praised Deny’s daughters while reflecting on one of their last encounters.
“I think of your daughters and their exceptional courage. I think of you, of my last visit and of your sparkling eyes, rest in peace, Doctor Dumaze,” Mouchel wrote.
French producer Raphael Beloliel pays tribute to Deny
Pierre Deny was a magnificent person… a great artist… breathtaking in the theater…
I shared with him the passion for football which he loved above all… he was passionate and until a year ago we played together like kids. He had the pleasure of… pic.twitter.com/qcKuR4zlM7– Raphaël Benoliel (@raphbeno) May 25, 2026
As tributes continued to pour in, French producer Raphaël Benoliel, who said he was a friend of Pierre Deny, remembered the late actor as both a “great artist” and a “magnificent person.”
In a heartfelt tribute shared on X, Benoliel explained that the two shared a deep passion for football, which Deny loved “above all else”, according to him.
He recalled that they were still playing together “just a year ago, like a couple of children”, describing Deny as a “true enthusiast” who found joy in play, friendship and life itself.
Benoliel added that Deny always carried “the joy of being together” and a strong love of effort and competition.
He ended his moving message by lamenting that “this damn Charcot disease took him away way too soon,” adding that this loss seemed profoundly unfair to him.
Pierre Deny’s death comes a few months after Eric Dane’s fight against ALS

Deny’s death comes just months after Grey’s Anatomy actor Eric Dane died from the same illness at the age of 53 on February 19, 2026. Dane first revealed his diagnosis publicly in April 2025.
“I was diagnosed with ALS,” he said. PEOPLE at the time, adding, “I’m grateful to have my loving family by my side as we navigate this next chapter.”
Two months later, the Hollywood star spoke about the emotional consequences of the illness. “I wake up every day and immediately remember this happening,” he said. “It’s not a dream,” Dane said during an interview on “Good Morning America.”
His wife, Rebecca Gayheart, later described the diagnosis as “heartbreaking” while discussing how their family was coping. “My girls are really suffering and we’re just trying to get by,” she said. PEOPLEadding, “We have professional therapists who help us, and we’re just trying to have some hope and do it with dignity and grace and love.”





























