Alain Delon was born November 8, 1935, in Paris, France. He was scouted by a top Hollywood agent during the 1957 Cannes Film Festival and passed the screen test for David O. Selznick's A Farewell to Arms. He was encouraged to make his American debut, but declined. He made his acting debut in the 1957 French film A Farewell to Arms. His breakthrough came in 1960, starring in the film Peltipnir. He subsequently appeared in numerous films, including those directed by Rene Clement, as well as Les Les Soles (1960), The Adventurers (1967), and The Friend of the Fifth Avenue (1968). A figure synonymous with handsome men, he enjoyed immense popularity in Japan. He frequently visited Japan, appearing as a guest at the French Film Festival and appearing on Japanese television programs and commercials. In the 1970s, he also began producing perfumes bearing his name. His fragrances, such as "Samurai" and "Shogun," were well-received for their packaging designs and fragrances inspired by Japanese culture and climate.

In his personal life, he was engaged to actress Romy Schneider in 1959 but broke up in 1963. He then married Nathalie Delon and had a son, but divorced in 1966. In 1987, he had two children with model Nathalie van Bremen, but they never registered the marriage and separated in 2002.