French actor Pierre Deny, known for his role in “Emily in Paris,” died Monday, May 25, at age 69, according to his family.
Deny, who played Louis de Léon on the romantic comedy series starring Lily Collins, died on Monday, May 25, following a battle with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (also known as ALS), the actor’s daughters told French news agency AFP, according to TF1 and Le Parisien.
“It is with deep emotion that we announce the death of Pierre Deny on Monday following a rapid ALS,” Deny’s children said in a statement translated from French, per the outlets.
USA TODAY has reached out to representatives for Netflix for comment.
Here’s what to know about Pierre Deny.
Did Pierre Deny die?
Yes, Pierre Deny died May 25 at age 69 following a battle with ALS, his children said.
Who was Pierre Deny?
Pierre Deny was a French actor known for starring as luxury brand executive Louis de Léon in the Netflix series “Emily in Paris,” along with appearances in “Fabio Montale,” “Another Woman’s Life” and “Une femme d’honneur,” according to IMDb.
What is ‘Emily in Paris’ about?
“Emily in Paris” follows an American marketing executive who is suddenly sent to Paris to work with the company’s European branch, according to IMDB.
Over the series five seasons, Emily experiences a variety of misadventures, both romantic and otherwise.
What is ALS?
Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), is a nervous system disease impacting nerve cells in the brain and spinal cord, according to the Mayo Clinic. The always-fatal illness leads to loss of muscle control over time.
The exact cause of the disease is still not known. A small number of cases are inherited, the Mayo Clinic said.
“ALS often begins with muscle twitching and weakness in an arm or leg, trouble swallowing or slurred speech. Eventually ALS affects control of the muscles needed to move, speak, eat and breathe,” according to the Mayo Clinic.
The most common cause of death for people with ALS is breathing failure, Mayo Clinic said. Half of people with ALS die within 14 to 18 months of diagnosis. However, some people with ALS live 10 years or longer.
USA TODAY contributed.
Contact Jenna Prestininzi: jprestininzi@freepress.com.
This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Pierre Deny dead at 69. What happened to ‘Emily in Paris’ actor
Reporting by Jenna Prestininzi, USA TODAY NETWORK / Detroit Free Press
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
