Pierre Deny, ’Emily in Paris’ Star, Dies at 69 After ALS Battle

French actor Pierre Deny has died at the age of 69 following a battle with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). His family confirmed his death in a statement to the French broadcaster TF1.

Deny was known to international audiences for portraying JVMA CEO and fashion boss Louis de Léon in seasons three and four of the Netflix drama series "Emily in Paris."

"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 (amyotrophic lateral sclerosis), also known as Charcot’s Disease," Deny's daughters said in their statement.

News of his death comes shortly after Netflix announced that "Emily in Paris" will conclude after its sixth season, which is currently filming in Greece. The show's fifth season ended with Emily, played by Lily Collins, returning to Paris after opening a Rome office for her marketing agency and ending a new romantic relationship.

Deny was a veteran of the French entertainment industry, beginning his career in theater during the 1980s before transitioning to television. He became a staple of domestic series, including "Julie Lescaut" and the soap opera "Demain Nous Appartient" ("Tomorrow is Ours"), where he played Dr. Renaud Dumaze in more than 500 episodes.

His other recent screen appearances included a 2025 episode of the TF1 series "Camping Paradis." Following the announcement of his death, colleagues from his career shared tributes online.

French actress and singer Sylvie Vartan, who co-starred with Deny in the 2015 stage production of Isabelle Mergault's "Ne Me Regardez Pas Comme Ca", honored the actor on Instagram.

"So sad to hear of the passing of Pierre Deny. I shared some great moments with him on stage in Isabelle Mergault’s play. He was a generous actor and a sensitive and funny man. My thoughts are with his family and loved ones at this painful time," Vartan wrote.

Luce Mouchel, who starred alongside Deny in "Tomorrow is Ours," also shared a tribute on Instagram.

"Pierre, seven 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. 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," Mouchel wrote.

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