Gaspard Ulliel, who played young Hannibal Lecter in 2007’s ‘Hannibal Rising’ and fashion mogul Yves Saint Laurent in the 2014 biopic ‘Saint Laurent’, died Wednesday. He was 37.
He died after a skiing accident in the Alps, according to his agent’s office.
Ulliel was hospitalised Tuesday after the accident in the Savoie region’s Rosiere ski area, the Savoie prosecutor’s office said. The office of the actor’s agent said he died on Wednesday. It provided no details.
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The Frecnh star, who was known for appearing in Chanel perfume ads, is in the upcoming Marvel series ‘Moon Knight’.
Local broadcaster France Bleu said Ulliel was hospitalized with a skull injury, and that he apparently collided with another skier at a crossing point on the slopes. The other skier was not hospitalized, according to France Bleu. Police and prosecutors would not discuss details of the accident.
Who was Gaspard Ulliel?
Gaspard Ulliel was born in a Parisian suburb to Christine, a runway show producer, and Serge Ulliel, a stylist. He studied cinema in the University of Saint-Denis.
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The 37-year-old kicked off his acting career with ‘Une Femme En Blanc’, a film for French television. After being discovered by director André Téchiné, he started featuring in television films.
His potrayal of Hannibal Lectar in ‘Hannibal Rising’ earned him some fame. In 2004, Ulliel starred in Jean-Pierre Jeunet’s ‘A Very Long Engagement’, for which he won a César Award for Most Promising Actor for his performance.
He also appeared on the cover of the French Vogue and was chosen as the face of Chanel for its new men’s fragrance, Bleu de Chanel.
Ulliel won the Lumières Award for Best Actor and a César Award for Best Actor nomination for playing French fashion designer Yves Saint Laurent in the 2014 biopic film ‘Saint Laurent’.
Last year, he joined the cast of Marvel’s upcoming series ‘Moon Knight’.
Tributes poured in from shocked fans and the corridors of power. French Prime Minister Jean Castex tweeted an homage that said, “Gaspard Ulliel grew up with cinema and cinema grew up with him. They loved each other madly.”
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The accident conjured up memories of when Formula One great Michael Schumacher hit his head in a ski accident in 2013 in the French ski resort of Meribel, about 50 kilometers (30 miles) from where Ulliel was skiingl. Both were treated at Grenoble University Hospital.
After Ulliel’s accident, the mountain police service for the Rosiere ski area said its personnel have been carrying out five or six rescues per day as the snow hardened in recent days.
