Pierre Deny, the French actor beloved for his role as fashion CEO Louis de Léon in “Emily in Paris,” has passed away at the age of 69 after a battle with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, also known as ALS. Deny’s daughters shared the heartbreaking news in a statement obtained by the Daily Mail on Wednesday, May 27.
“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,” they wrote.
Pierre Deny Appeared in Seasons 3 and 4 of Emily in Paris Before Final Season Production Began
Deny appeared in seasons 3 and 4 of the hit Netflix series as Louis de Léon, the CEO of fictional luxury fashion company JVMA and father of Nicholas de Léon, played by Paul Forman.
The heartbreaking news comes just days after Lily Collins revealed that filming had officially begun on the sixth and final season of “Emily in Paris.”
“Annnnnd we’re back — for the last time. @emilyinparis takes on Greece (and of course France) for one final, epic adventure. Let’s make it the most incredibly special season yet!…” Collins wrote on Instagram.
Costars Remember Pierre Deny as a Kind and Generous Presence
In the hours that followed, tributes began pouring in from colleagues and friends who had worked with Deny throughout his remarkable career.
Actress Luce Mouchel, who shared the screen with Deny for years, posted a moving tribute on Instagram celebrating their friendship.
“Pierre, 7 years of filming together, taking the train together, having lunch at the canteen together, sometimes confiding, inviting each other from time to time and congratulating you for your hidden cooking talent, meeting our girls, clapping at the theater, calling each other ‘Doctor’ usually, and I forget,” she wrote.
“A short decade of shared life that should not have ended so quickly and so brutally. I’m thinking of your daughters and their exceptional courage. Thinking of you, my last visit and your sparkling eyes, rest in peace, Dr. Dumaze 🤍🤍🤍”
Fans also filled social media with heartfelt messages honoring Deny’s warmth, humor and the lasting impact he made throughout his decades-long career on French television.
Pierre Deny Built a Long Career in French Television
Long before joining “Emily in Paris,” Deny had already become a familiar face to French television audiences.
Variety reported on May 27th that the actor appeared in more than 500 episodes of the soap opera “Demain nous appartient” and starred in several other well-known French productions, including “Fabio Montale”, “Une femme d’honneur,” and “Cinq soeurs”.
Deny first began his acting career in theater before eventually transitioning into film and television, where he spent decades building a respected career both onstage and onscreen.
In recent years, several public figures have spoken openly about their ALS diagnoses. Eric Dane, known for Grey’s Anatomy, died in February months after publicly revealing his diagnosis.
Earlier this month, Jenny Slatten from “90 Day Fiancé” also shared that she had been diagnosed with ALS after initially receiving the diagnosis in late 2025.
