'Persepolis' author and director Marjane Satrapi passes away at 56 in Paris; President Emmanuel Macron mourns the loss of icon

Trigger warning: This article mentions death, reader discretion is advised.

Marjane Satrapi, best known for her films such as ‘The Gang of the Jotas’ and ‘Dear Paris,’ as well as for her book, such as the ‘Persepolis’ series, has passed away. The novelist and film director was 56 at the time of her passing.

Marjane Satrapi passes away at 56

The Associated Press reported that the beloved film director and author passed away at the age of 56 in Paris on June 4, 2026. She was also a prominent activist known for advocating for women's rights. President Emmanuel Macron and his wife, Brigitte Macron, paid their respects to the filmmaker and released a public statement.

They cited “Her passing marks the loss of a leading figure of French culture and an artist devoted to freedom, whose work carried a universal message and earned her immense international acclaim.” They further added in the statement that she was a “remarkable artist who transformed an Iranian childhood into a universal fable.”

As per the report, her friends and family members cited that she passed away due to “sadness”, a year after her husband, film producer and actor Mattias Ripa, passed away

More about Marjane Satrapi

Marjane Satrapi was a renowned French-Iranian novelist and film director also known for her activism. She was born on November 22, 1969, in Rasht, Iran. Although born there, she moved to Vienna, Austria, in 1983 at her parents' request to complete her studies. She moved to France in 1994 and completed her education in Strasbourg.

She was best known for her autobiographical comic book and film titled ‘Persepolis.’ The story covers her life in Tehran and the Islamic Revolution in Iran. Some of her most popular films include ‘Chicken with Plums,’ ‘The Gang of the Jotas,’ ‘Dear Paris,’ ‘Radioactive,’ and ‘The Voices,’ to name a few.