French actor Gaspard Ulliel, who is one of the stars of Marvel’s upcoming “Moon Knight” series, has passed away following a serious ski accident.
Ulliel was only 37-year-old. He was hospitalized yesterday after a collision on ski slopes in the Savoie region. He was transported by helicopter to a hospital in Grenoble with a head injury. According to a statement put out by the actor’s family, he did not survive.
A fan account called the Gaspard Ulliel Daily was one of the first to announce the news on Twitter, tweeting, “Gaspard passed away. I’m sorry, I have trouble writing this and don’t quite know what to say. I’m so, so sad. He’ll be deeply missed. I’m sending all my love to his family and friends.”
Gaspard passed away.
I’m sorry, I have trouble writing this and don’t quite know what to say. I’m so, so sad. He’ll be deeply missed.
I’m sending all my love to his family and friends.
— Gaspard Ulliel Daily (@UllielDaily) January 19, 2022
Who Was Gaspard Ulliel?
The 37-year-old actor was born in Boulogne-Billancourt, France, on November 25, 1984. He was best known for playing the young Hannibal Lecter in 2007’s “Hannibal Rising” sequel to “Silence of the Lambs.” His role as Hannibal Lecter was his first role in an English language film.
He also played fashion mogul Yves Saint Laurent in 2017 and was the face of Chanel men’s fragrance Bleu de Chanel. He was also the face of Longchamp, a French leather and luxury good company that he participated in with Kate Moss.
He was nominated for a Cesar Award for Most Promising Actor in both 2002 and 2003. In 2004, he finally won for his role in “A Very Long Engagement,” in which he co-starred with actress Audrey Tautou. In 2017, he won another Cesar Award for Best Actor for his role in “It’s Only the End of the World.”
gaspard ulliel was great in everything i saw him in but my favorite performance of his will always be in xavier dolan’s it’s only the end of the world. gone to soon, rip 🖤 pic.twitter.com/3oncqHu0LX
— olwethu (@CinemaView_) January 19, 2022
Ulliel had been in a relationship with French model and singer Gaëlle Piétri. The two had a son together, born on February 9, 2016.
In 2021, Ulliel had joined the cast of the upcoming superhero Marvel series, “Moon Knight,” which features “Star Wars” alum Oscar Isaac as the titular character. Ulliel had been cast as Anton Mogart, also known as Midnight Man.
What Is ‘Moon Knight’ About?
“Moon Knight” is a comic book superhero created by Marvel. In 2021, Disney announced that they were bringing his story to life in a Disney+ exclusive series. “Moon Knight” first appeared in “Werewolf by Night” #32, which marked his first comic book appearance. The series is scheduled for release in March 2022. “Moon Knight” has been making headlines recently, as the official trailer for the series debuted earlier this week.
In the comic books, Marc Spector is a son of a rabbi who becomes a former Marine and CIA operative, despite his conflicted feelings about violence. While in Sudan, he watches a fellow mercenary kill an archeologist. Spector is able to save the archeologist’s daughter but is then killed by the mercenary. As he lays dying, he is brought into a recently unearthed tomb and placed in front of a statue of the Egyptian moon god Khonshu. Khonshu resurrects Spector, fully healed, and asks him to become the “Moon’s Knight” and redeem his life of violence by protecting the innocent.
Moon knight actor Gaspard Ulliel has sadly passed away at the age of 37, due to ski accident. pic.twitter.com/JPi3pBiNtV
— MCUverse (@MCUverse_) January 19, 2022
Later on, it’s revealed that Marc Spector has dissociative identity disorder, and his personality shifts between the four main phases of the moon: the traveler, the pathfinder, the embracer, and the defender of those who travel by night.
In most of his appearances, Moon Knight has no supernatural abilities aside from occasional visions. He is proficient in combat and utilizing high-tech equipment from his former military days, and he can sometimes display increased strength, speed, and endurance, depending on the cycle of the moon. Spector has also died and then been resurrected by Khonshu, although it’s never been clearly stated if there’s a limit of how many times he can die and then come back to life.
Although it’s still unclear how the Marvel superhero comic book and the Disney+ series are going to differ, for fans of Gaspard Ulliel, it will be their last chance to see their favorite actor in his last role.
Marvel’s “Moon Knight” is available to stream on March 30, 2022, exclusively on Disney+.
RIP Gaspard Ulliel, a great talent of European cinema gone too soon 😭💔 https://t.co/0iQns7VRQ4 pic.twitter.com/wYFSB62Q0I
— BeatlesFass #93 (@BeatFassbender) January 19, 2022
