Gerard Depardieu's son dies

Gerard Depardieu's son dies of pneumonia

Gerard Depardieu's eldest son has died suddenly of pneumonia.

Guillaume Depardieu, 37, who was a celebrated actor in his own right, died in a Parisian hospital following a severe bout of pneumonia.

The actor had been filming a new movie, L'Enfance d'lcare, in Romania at the weekend when he suddenly fell ill.

Gerard's publicist, Artmedia, said: ' He caught a virus, which gave him a very severe pneumonia. Gerard is devastated.'

Although he was a famous actor in France, Guillaume had a chequered personal life, serving time in jail for drug offences. In 1995, the actor was involved in a serious motorbike accident and had to have a leg amputated.

Five years ago, Gerard and Guillaume had a public falling out, but in 1991 starred together in the movie Tous Les Matins Du Monde.

Gerard became internationally recognised when he enjoyed box office hits with films like Cyrano de Bergerac and Green Card, for which he won a Golden Globe for Best Actor starring alongside Andie MacDowell.

Guillaume was one of two children Gerard has with the actress Elisabeth Guignot before the couple's divorce.

The actor also has a son and a daughter from two other love affairs.