Gaspard Ulliel, the French actor who appeared in films including A Very Long Engagement, The Princess Of Montpensier, Saint Laurent and It's Only The End Of The World, has died following a skiing accident. He was 37.
Born in the Parisian suburb of Boulogne-Billancourt in 1984, Ulliel studied cinema at the University of Saint-Denis, and began appearing in made-for-TV films even when he was still in college. Following performances at respected French drama school Cours Florent, he was discovered by director André Téchiné. Ulliel worked on various TV Movies, and made his big screen debut in 2001's Brotherhood Of The Wolf.
His first English-language film was 2007's Hannibal Rising which, while it didn't score critical acclaim, did bring him more widespread recognition. Ulliel's film career also included the likes of Summer Things, Paris, Je T'aime, The Sea Wall, A Heavenly Vintage, The Art Of Love, To The Ends Of The World and, most recently, 2019's Sybil. He had one final cinematic performance left for release, Emily Atef's More Than Ever, but he'd also finished work on Marvel's Moon Knight, where he plays Anton Mogart, AKA Midnight Man. The show will launch on Disney+ on 30 March.
Outside of acting, Ulliel also became known as a model, appearing in campaigns for Chanel (for whom he appeared in an ad directed by Martin Scorsese) and Longchamp.
He's survived by his girlfriend, Gaëlle Piétri, and their six year-old son. "Gaspard belonged to this new generation of actors who were making tomorrow’s French cinema. He knew how to select his roles and shaped his career which filled every promise," says Thierry Fremaux, director of the Cannes Film Festival. "Each appearance on the red carpet, from La Princesse De Montpensier to It’s Only The End Of The World illustrated his presence, both discreet and full of kindness. He was equally brilliant and talented. He gave a lot and we’ll always remember him."