Health3 min(s) read
Published 09:21 29 May 2026 GMT
Here are the early signs of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) after Emily in Paris star Pierre Deny sadly died following a battle with the disease.
The French star appeared in seasons three and four of the hit Netflix series as Louis de Léon, the CEO of fashion giant JVMA and the father of Nicholas de Leon, played by Paul Forman.
His death was confirmed by his daughters, who said: "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," per The Hollywood Reporter.
Forman paid tribute to his on-screen father, writing on his Instagram Story: "Heartbroken to hear of the passing of Pierre Deny," cited by Page Six.
“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," he added.
Bulgarian-French singer Sylvie Vartan also shared a heartfelt message: "It is with great sadness that I learned of the passing of Pierre Deny."
"I shared many wonderful moments with him on stage in Isabelle Mergault’s play.
"He was a generous actor and a sensitive and funny man. In these painful moments, my thoughts are with his family and loved ones," she said.
French actress Luce Mouchel, who starred alongside Deny in the soap opera Tomorrow Belongs To Us, reflected on years of friendship and collaboration.
Her tribute read: "Pierre, 7 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."
ALS is a rare degenerative condition that affects nerve cells in the brain and spinal cord.
The disease causes a progressive loss of muscle control and can eventually lead to paralysis. There is currently no cure.
Unlike some neurological conditions, ALS is not usually painful. According to the Mayo Clinic, symptoms frequently begin with muscle twitching and weakness in an arm or leg before spreading to other areas of the body as more nerve cells are lost.
Other warning signs can include trouble swallowing, slurred speech, and difficulty communicating.
While international audiences recognized Deny from Emily in Paris, he was also a familiar face on French television.
He was best known for playing Dr Renaud Dumaze in Tomorrow Belongs To Us (Demain nous), a role he held from 2017 until 2025 across more than 500 episodes.
His death comes months after the passing of Grey's Anatomy star Eric Dane, who also died following complications linked to ALS after helping raise awareness of the disease.
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