2022 is already a year full of tragic deaths, but this one is so unexpected. Gaspard Ulliel, the French film star, has passed away following a ski accident. Ulliel was arguably best known (to American audiences) for his role as the young Hannibal Lecter in Hannibal Rising, and he won a Cesar Award for Xavier Dolan’s It’s Only The End Of The World in 2017. He was in A Very Long Engagement, Saint Laurent and he also has a role in the upcoming Knight Moon series. In addition to all of that, he was beautiful and he took on modeling work in France and internationally. He was only 37 years old.
French actor Gaspard Ulliel, one of the bright lights of French cinema and a star of Marvel’s upcoming Moon Knight series, has died following a ski accident, according to news agency AFP. The Cesar-winning actor was hospitalized Tuesday after suffering a head injury and did not recover, the actor’s family and local agent have said. The 37-year-old actor was transported by helicopter to a hospital in Grenoble following a collision on the slopes in the Savoie region.
Mountain police have been responding to multiple accidents in the region due to hard snow and ice on the slopes. In the Haute-Savoie region a 5-year-old girl was killed Saturday when a skier crashed into her.
The actor had one son with French model and singer Gaëlle Piétri.
What a complete and utter tragedy. I was reminded of Natasha Richardson’s death, which also happened because of a ski accident. It sounds like the conditions were just brutal on the slopes. Thoughts and prayers to his family and his young son.
Photos courtesy of Avalon Red and InStar.
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- Actor Gaspard Ulliel attends the Opening Ceremony during the 45th Deauville American Film Festival on September 06, 2019 in Deauville, France.,Image: 537079052, License: Rights-managed, Restrictions: USA, OZ, NZ, SOUTH AFRICA, JAPAN, AND CHINA ONLY – Los Angeles Office (PCN): +1 310.822.0419 UK Office (Avalon): +44 (0) 20 7421 6000 sales@pacificcoastnews.com, Model Release: no, Credit line: Thomas Floyd / Avalon
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- NO TABLOID – 5th Monte-Carlo Gala For Planetary Health. Gaspard Ulliel attends the photocall during the 5th Monte-Carlo Gala For Planetary Health on September 23, 2021 in Monte-Carlo, Monaco.,Image: 633828246, License: Rights-managed, Restrictions: , Model Release: no, Credit line: Olivier Huitel / Avalon
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- NO TABLOID – 5th Monte-Carlo Gala For Planetary Health. Gaspard Ulliel attends the photocall during the 5th Monte-Carlo Gala For Planetary Health on September 23, 2021 in Monte-Carlo, Monaco.,Image: 633828987, License: Rights-managed, Restrictions: , Model Release: no, Credit line: Olivier Huitel / Avalon
Such a tragedy
That’s awful. Like you, Kaiser, my thoughts went immediately to Natasha Richardson. Prayers to his family and young son. Such a tragedy.
Sonny Bono as well. I grew up never wearing a helmet (even though my sister did ski me into a tree face first LOL) but now I do and insist me kids do.
the conditions out here (Switzerland / France) this year are atrocious. I’m honestly surprised there haven’t been more serious accidents. RIP Gaspard
Why they are atrocious?
There have been more accidents actually. A 5-yo girl died in the same area a few days ago. She was hit by another skier while she was taking a skiing lesson. So sad 😢
I know there are complete accidents, but last time I was skiing, I was upset by how many people passed too close to me. Some people are too damn reckless, with such terrible, tragic results to others.
My jaw is on the floor. Rest easy, Gaspard.
I don’t know what to say. He was too young and so talented. His poor family.
This is so tragic. I know these are not common incidents, but this is why I have never skied and never will. Obviously driving a car every day is dangerous, but I think it’s generally worth it. Skiing sounds like fun but not worth the risk. I hope everyone exercises caution.
I don’t ski for a variety of reasons – one that I’m just not an outdoorsy person. But one of the items on the list is that I have terrible coordination and just KNOW I would get in an accident, even if it was just the bunny hill or something. I tried cross country skiing a few times and couldn’t even deal with that and it’s mostly FLAT.
I’m the same way. I don’t trust my reflexes or instincts at all. I feel like I’d find a way to get injured even though I’m not really accident prone otherwise. But I’m from Texas, so I didn’t grow up around snow or ice.
I am so upset. Ulliel was so talented and I was so obsessed, just convinced he’d break out one day and be everywhere. So so young.
So sad and so sad for the five year olds family. How tragic! My husband grew up skiing and broke his leg at five. I agreed to go skiing with him a few years ago (we live in a southwest ski area, nothing like the alps) and I couldn’t believe how dangerous is was. I didn’t grow up skiing but am in good shape but almost snapped my leg multiple times and fell down. I told him I couldn’t believe more people aren’t seriously injured or killed. It’s so easy to lose control.
He was such a beautiful man and a magnificent actor. Seriously, watch his work. It really feels like such a major loss. I really thought there was no ceiling on his career.
Omg this one has hit me very hard. I loved him. Such beauty and talent. So young. Tragic
The shock of it all. Life is so cruel. Poor man. Such a loss.
This is so sad and just hits me so hard. When my brother was 15 (in 1994) he hit three trees skiing and we almost lost him. Although he survived he had severe head trauma and he has honestly never matured past 15. You wouldn’t really know unless you spent a little time with him to see that something is wrong. God I just remember going to the hospital and being allowed to see him before he was flown to Sudbury he was screaming that his helmet was too tight (he thought he had a hockey helmet on) and begging my mom to loosen it. He broke his orbital bone almost losing his eye, has severe trauma in him front orbital lobe, smashed his elbow, some ribs, damaged his back and broke his leg.
Oh this is just heartbreaking. His poor family. I went skiing once in Breckenridge and I was shocked they just let me out on the slopes without proper classes or training. It was horrifying and scary with people flying by nonstop. I decided to sit and watch instead since I didn’t have time to take classes at that point and I saw 7 people carried off by emergency services or friends within just a few hours. Skiing is so dangerous, I’m sure he knew what he was doing but accidents happen obviously.
So tragic. He was really talented and way too young. He’s always reminded me of a beautifully perfected version of Crispin Glover. Just awful.
I live in Colorado and starting skiing around 6 years ago. I took lessons first and I go skiing 4-5 times a winter, but I have never gotten to the point I feel very confident. I go pretty slow and traverse a lot instead of beelining and I hate when it’s icy or bumpy. My second year skiing I was taken out from behind by a snowboarder that was going too fast. My husband was waiting for me downhill and saw it happen. I flew up in the air and landed on my back and hit my head (I was wearing a helmet) and the snowboarder tried to just keep going but my husband grabbed him and made him stop in case I was injured and needed his insurance info. I was sore but ok. It really scared me though and ever since then I am so wary when there’s a lot of people around. I prefer to ski nice easy blues at my own pace, and check behind and to the side of me a lot before merging with other ski runs. RIP to this talented man – what a sad thing to happen.
Do you remember when Gwyneth Paltrow hit someone from the back while skiing and left without asking if he was ok? I just saw a TikTok about it reminding me that the lawsuit is still going on and she’s actually counter sued. It’s insane how dangerous it can be.
@NB and he apparently also on a blue slope. So, these things can happen anywhere, to even an experienced skiier.
So sad.
So sad, I know nothing of him personally but he was a wonderful actor.
So sad. Rest in peace Gaspard. And I concur to all things said about skiing. Never liked it, always found it too dangerous.
So very tragic. He already had a great career in France and he was about to take it to a whole other level via Marvel. So sad for his family and for that of the 5 year old girl.
So incredibly tragic, he was so talented. I remember him from A Very Long Engagement. I love to ski and I didn’t grow up wearing a helmet but I wear one now. I am a cautious skier, I stick to green and blues, very occasionally a black if conditions are not too bad. I’m no expert and never graduated from not fully doing the pizza so my form is a weird mixture of parallel and pizza lol. My heart goes out to Gaspard’s family and friends.
I’m so shocked. He was one of my only celebs crushes, one of the most talented and handsome actors I’ve ever seen. My condolences and prayers to his family and rest in peace.
Was he wearing a helmet?
All of the celebrities who have been mentioned here that passed away – were not wearing helmets!!!
I started wearing a helmet over 25 years ago. Would never not do so. Any resort you go to, everyone wears helmets.