Christine Boisson (1956–2024), Emmanuelle actress

Christine Boisson was a French model and actress who first drew attention in the 1974 film “Emmanuelle” and went on to have over 80 screen credits and lead dozens of stage productions.

Anouk Aimée (1932–2024), star of A Man and a Woman

Anouk Aimée was a French actress who won acclaim for her roles in such films as “A Man and a Woman,” for which she was nominated for an Academy Award, and the Federico Fellini classics “La Dolce Vita” and “8½.”

Françoise Hardy (1944–2024), French ballad singer and actress

Françoise Hardy was a French singer, actress, and model whose penchant for thoughtful ballads made her a star of the 1960s.

Maryse Condé (1934–2024), icon of Caribbean literature 

Maryse Condé was a French author best known for her work focused on the African diaspora, especially in the Caribbean, as explored in her best known novel, “Ségou.”

Laurent de Brunhoff (1925–2024), longtime Babar author and artist 

Laurent de Brunhoff was a French author and illustrator who carried on the work of his father, Jean de Brunhoff, the creator of Babar the Elephant.

Claude Montana (1947–2024), era-defining fashion designer

Claude Montana was a French fashion designer whose big-shouldered designs were formative to 1980s fashion.

Micheline Presle (1922–2024), Devil in the Flesh star 

Micheline Presle was a French actress who starred in such films as “Devil in the Flesh” and “Under My Skin.” 

Francoise Bornet (1930–2023), woman from the Paris kiss photo

Francoise Bornet became an enduring symbol of romance when she and her then boyfriend, Jacques Carteaud, were featured in “The Kiss by the Hí´tel de Ville,” a 1950 photograph by Robert Doisneau that has become a staple of posters, postcards, and home décor.  

Gil de Ferran (1967–2023), French-born Brazilian championship racer

Gil de Ferran was a French-born Brazilian racer who achieved recognition as a British Formula Three champion, two-time CART World Series champion, and an Indianapolis 500 winner. 

Colette Maze (1914–2023), world’s oldest recording pianist 

Colette Maze was a French pianist whose recording career began in her 80s and continued throughout her life, with her most recent album released just this year.

Thierry Rautureau (2023), “The Chef in the Hat” 

Thierry Rautureau was a celebrity chef known for his Seattle restaurants and his appearances on “Top Chef Masters” and other TV shows.

Marc Bohan (1926–2023), Dior signature designer

Marc Bohan was a French fashion designer whose 30 years with Christian Dior made the line an icon of simple, elegant design.

Jane Birkin (1946–2023), singer, actress, and model

Jane Birkin was a prolific British and French actress and singer, as well as the inspiration for the sought-after Birkin Bag from Hermès, one of the most exclusive accessories in fashion.

Léon Gautier (1922–2023), last surviving French D-Day fighter 

Léon Gautier was a veteran of the French military, the country’s last surviving D-Day veteran.

Françoise Gilot (1921–2023), artist and muse to Picasso

Françoise Gilot was a renowned French artist whose 1964 memoir, “Life with Picasso,” told the story of her years as the muse and lover of Pablo Picasso.

Simone Segouin (1925–2023), heroine of the French Resistance

Simone Segouin was a French Resistance fighter during World War II, who helped capture German troops and deliver crucial messages.

Jean-Luc Godard (1930–2022), director and pioneer of the French New Wave film movement

Jean-Luc Godard was a French director who pioneered post-war French cinema by establishing the French New Wave film movement.

Roland Mesnier (1944–2022), longtime White House pastry chef

Roland Mesnier was the White House pastry chef for 25 years, serving five presidents.

Jacques Perrin (1941–2022), star of “Cinema Paradiso”

Jacques Perrin was a French actor who starred in the Oscar-winning film “Cinema Paradiso.”

Thierry Mugler (1948–2022), fashion designer who dressed Beyonce, Madonna

Thierry Mugler was a French fashion designer known for his avant garde haute couture, who created designs for celebrities including Beyonce and Madonna.

Gaspard Ulliel (1984–2022), “Moon Knight” star

Gaspard Ulliel was a French actor who stars as Midnight Man in the upcoming Marvel Disney Plus series “Moon Knight.”

Pierre Cardin (1922–2020), “Space Age style” fashion designer

Pierre Cardin was a French fashion designer who pioneered Space Age style in the 1960s, popularizing sleek, geometric designs.

Jacques Chirac (1932–2019), former president of France

Jacques Chirac was the president of France from 1995 to 2007, as well as mayor of Paris from 1977 to 1995 and prime minister of France from 1974 to 1976 and 1986 to 1988.

Philippe Zdar (1967–2019), influential French music producer

Member of electronic music duo Cassius worked with Beastie Boys and Pharrell Williams.

Claude Lanzmann (1925–2018), director of acclaimed Holocaust documentary “Shoah”

Claude Lanzmann, French director of the acclaimed Holocaust documentary “Shoah.”

Madeleine Lebeau (1923 - 2016), Casablanca actress

Madeleine Lebeau, an actress known best for her role as Rick’s girlfriend in the classic film "Casablanca," died May 1, according to The Hollywood Reporter. She was 92.

Edith Piaf: La Vie en Rose

Fifty years after Edith Piaf's death, her signature song "La Vie en Rose" is as famous as it ever was ...

Francois Truffaut, Cinema's Wild Child

Is the cinema more important than life? For Francois Truffaut, they were one and the same.

Papa Jacques Montouroy, Aid Worker

The legendary aid worker spent decades in war-torn locales, providing food to the hungry and teaching poverty-stricken kids to play soccer.