Paul Forman, star of Netflix's Emily in Paris, has paid tribute to Pierre Deny, the actor who played his on-screen father, following his death at the age of 69. Deny passed away after a sudden and severe case of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), his daughters confirmed to the French press agency Agence France-Presse (AFP).
Tributes Pour In for Pierre Deny
Forman, 32, who portrayed Nicolas De Leon in 19 episodes of the romantic comedy series, expressed his grief on social media. His character is an executive of the family conglomerate JVMA, which was run by Deny's character, Louis De Leon.
In a heartfelt post, Forman wrote: 'Heartbroken to hear of the passing of Pierre Deny. It was a privilege to work alongside him and to witness his warmth and talent up close. Thinking of his family and loved ones. Rest in peace.'
Deny appeared in three episodes of Emily in Paris, but he was best known in his native France for roles in the soap opera Demain Nous Appartient (Tomorrow Is Ours) and the campsite drama Camping Paradis.
Career Highlights
Deny began his acting career on the French medical drama Medecins De Nuit in 1986. He later gained widespread recognition for playing Dr. Renaud Dumaze in more than 500 episodes of Tomorrow Is Ours between 2017 and 2023. His film credits include The African Woman (1990), The Role Of Her Life (2004), and Another Woman's Life (2012).
His longtime co-star from Tomorrow Is Ours, Luce Mouchel, shared a touching tribute on Instagram, writing in French: 'Pierre, seven years of filming together, taking the train together, having lunch together in the cafeteria, sometimes confiding in each other, occasionally inviting each other over and congratulating you on your hidden talent as a cook, introducing our daughters, going to applaud each other at the theater, habitually calling each other 'doctor,' and so much more. A little over a decade of shared life that shouldn't have ended so quickly and so brutally. I'm thinking of your daughters and their exceptional courage. I'm thinking of you, of my last visit and your sparkling eyes. Rest in peace, Dr. Dumaze.'
Health and Legacy
It is unclear when Deny was diagnosed with ALS. His last Instagram post, from October, promoted a reading he did in Paris. According to the NHS, ALS is the most common form of motor neurone disease (MND), with early symptoms including muscle weakness in the arms and legs that can cause sufferers to trip and drop objects.
Emily in Paris is set to return for its sixth and final series in the near future, after filming began near Greece earlier this month.
