Paul Forman is keeping things dignified, sharing a heartfelt tribute with a black-and-white photo of Deny and calling it a 'privilege' to work alongside him. The focus stays on Deny's warmth and talent rather than the circumstances.
Sources say Deny's daughters described his ALS as 'sudden and severe,' which raises questions about how quickly this progressed. Forman is the first of his Emily in Paris co-stars to publicly comment, leaving others silent so far—and that silence is loud.
Deny died Monday at age 69 following a battle with ALS. He appeared as Louis de Léon in 'Emily in Paris' seasons 3 and 4 opposite Paul Formman's Nicolas de Léon. His daughters released a statement through the Daily Mail confirming he passed from a 'sudden and severe case of ALS.'
Deny's death hits especially hard given that Emily in Paris is currently filming its sixth and final season—meaning the cast won't even get to say goodbye on set.
Paul Forman has broken his silence about the sudden passing of his Emily in Paris co-star Pierre Deny, sharing a heartfelt tribute via Instagram Stories as news spread across Hollywood. The actor who portrayed Louis de Léon—the formidable CEO of the fictional fashion empire JVMA—died Monday at age 69, leaving behind a legacy that included two seasons of on-screen chemistry with Forman, who played his son Nicolas de Léon. 'Heartbroken to hear of the passing of Pierre Deny,' Forman wrote alongside a black-and-white photo of the late actor.
'It was a privilege to work alongside him and to witness his warmth and talent up close.' The 32-year-old concluded with a message of solidarity: 'Thinking of his family and loved ones. Rest in peace.' It's a touching farewell, but notably brief—which is typical when actors are still processing shock. Deny's daughters confirmed the devastating news through a statement obtained by the Daily Mail on Wednesday, revealing that their father passed following 'a sudden and severe case of ALS' (amyotrophic lateral sclerosis).
The disease, also known as Lou Gehrig's disease, progressively destroys nerve cells controlling voluntary muscles, and there's currently no cure. His family described it as hitting fast and hard, which tracks with how aggressive some forms of the condition can be. The timing is particularly cruel given that Emily in Paris is currently filming its sixth season—the show's last hurrah.
Lily Collins announced their return to production earlier this month with an Instagram post declaring they were 'back for the last time' and taking on Greece alongside France for one 'final, epic adventure.' Deny won't be part of those farewell scenes, having appeared only in seasons 3 and 4 as Louis before presumably exiting the storyline. His death means the cast will never reunite to properly honor him. Forman is the first Emily in Paris cast member to publicly address Deny's passing, though other actors from his extensive career are speaking out.
Luce Mouchel, who worked with Deny on the French soap opera 'Demain nous appartient' (Tomorrow is Ours), shared an emotional tribute Tuesday in both French and English. She reflected on their 'short decade of shared life that should not have ended so quickly and so brutally,' writing directly to her late co-star: 'I'm thinking of your daughters and their exceptional courage. Thinking of you, my last visit and your sparkling eyes, rest in peace.' The grief is palpable, the loss still raw.
Deny's death comes amid a string of high-profile ALS diagnoses and fatalities that have brought renewed attention to the disease. Last week, '90 Day Fiancé' personality Jenny Slatten announced her own diagnosis, telling People she and husband Sumit Singh 'cried and held each other' upon learning the news. In February, 'Grey's Anatomy' star Eric Dane died at 53 after his battle with ALS, and singer Roberta Flack—best known for 'Killing Me Softly With His Song'—passed away in February 2025 at 88 following her 2022 diagnosis. It's a brutal disease that doesn't discriminate, and Deny now joins an ever-growing list of notable figures taken too soon.
