Pierre Deny, who appeared in seasons three and four of Emily in Paris as the stern fashion boss Louis de Léon, has died at 69 after what his daughters described as a sudden and severe battle with ALS. The announcement came on 27 May, just as the series was back in production on its sixth and final season.
His daughters said he died on Monday. ALS, also known as amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, is a progressive neurodegenerative disease that attacks nerve cells in the brain and spinal cord, and there is no known cure. Deny’s role in the Netflix series made him part of a storyline that linked him to Nicholas de Léon, played by Paul Forman, as the father of the character who dated Mindy Chen’s best friend, played by Ashley Park.
The timing adds an unexpected shadow to a show that was already marking the end of an era. Lily Collins announced one week ago on Instagram that production on the sixth and final season had begun, writing, “Annnnd we’re back – for the last time,” and saying the show would move through Greece and France for “one final, epic adventure.” It is not clear when Deny was diagnosed or whether he had been due to return for season six.
Forman, who played Deny’s on-screen son, wrote on his Instagram Story that he was heartbroken by the news and called it a privilege to work alongside him and see his warmth and talent up close. Outside the series, Deny was widely known in France for roles in Five Sisters, A Woman of Honour, New Maud, Life is Beautiful and Tomorrow is Ours, where he played Dr. Renuad Dumaze in more than 500 episodes from 2017 to 2023.
Colleagues in France also paid tribute. Luce Mouchel wrote on Instagram about seven years of filming together, while Sylvie Vartan recalled sharing stage moments with him in Isabelle Mergault’s 2015 play and described him as generous, sensitive and funny. A Paramount Television Studios spokesperson said the production was deeply saddened to confirm the sudden death of a member of the Emily in Paris family and extended condolences to his loved ones.
Denys’ death follows another loss tied to the series. Season five ended with a blank title card reading, “In memory of Diego Borella,” after the local Italian assistant director died at 47 last summer while preparing for a final scene at Hotel Danieli in Venice. Filming briefly stopped after his collapse. The show now heads into its last season carrying the mark of two deaths, and Deny’s absence will be felt not only by viewers who knew Louis de Léon, but by the French screen world that had watched him work for decades.
