Actress Emmanuelle Debever tragically passes away at 60, on the same day a documentary related to her accusation against Gerard Depardieu was released

French actress Emmanuelle Debever, who had made sexual assault allegations against Hollywood actor Gerard Depardieu, has tragically died at the age of 60, reportedly taking her own life.

The Paris’ prosecutors office, as reported by Variety, stated that Debever was reported missing by her partner on November 29, after leaving their home with a concerning note.

The news of Debever’s death was first reported by the French newspaper Liberation. Prosecutors confirmed her demise on December 7, ruling it as a suicide.

An investigation has been initiated in light of her previous allegations against Depardieu, with the prosecutor’s office stating, “This probe will gather and verify the cues mentioned by the media and search the circumstances that may have led to this death.”

Emmanuelle Debever gained recognition as a promising talent in French cinema during the 1980s. She appeared alongside Depardieu in the 1982 film Danton and subsequently withdrew from the public eye. Later, she became the first actress to accuse her former co-star.

Gerard Depardieu

In 2019, Debever took to Facebook to publicly allege that Depardieu attempted to grope her during a carriage ride on set.

She accompanied her post with a photo of them together and detailed the incident, stating, “This monster allowed himself to enjoy plenty during filming, making the most of the intimacy inside a carriage. Sliding his fat paw under my skirt to, in his words, ‘make me feel better’… me, I didn’t allow it to happen.”

Debever’s tragic passing coincided with the release of a documentary covering her allegations against Depardieu. The documentary, titled Gerard Depardieu: The Fall of the Ogre, aired on the TV channel France 2 and delved into numerous other claims made against the 74-year-old actor.

Prior to its broadcast, French actress Hélène Darras came forward with accusations of sexual assault against Depardieu during their collaboration on the 2007 film Disco.

Depicting her experience in the film, Darras asserted that the actor was “unmanageable” and viewed her as a “piece of meat,” alleging that he had “passed his hand over” her hips and buttocks.

Furthermore, the documentary captured Depardieu’s controversial remarks and gestures towards several women during a 2018 trip to North Korea, including inappropriate sounds and comments as well as making suggestive remarks and gestures towards a North Korean interpreter.

The release of the documentary occurred amidst an ongoing investigation into Depardieu for rape and sexual assault, stemming from allegations made by French star Charlotte Arnould in 2018.

Depardieu, known for his notable presence in over 200 films and an Oscar nomination for Cyrano de Bergerac, has consistently refuted any allegations of criminal misconduct. In response to the documentary, he expressed deep distress and declined further comment, reiterating his denial of any “abusing women” in an open letter previously published in the French newspaper Le Figaro.