Gerard Depardieu's son dies

Gerard Depardieu's son has died at the age of 37.

Guillaume Depardieu - the actor's child from his first marriage to actress Elisabeth Guignot - was hospitalised on Sunday (12.10.08) with pneumonia but passed away in Paris' Raymond-Poincare de Garches hospital yesterday (13.10.08).

A representative confirmed the news, saying: "He passed away after having contracted a virus which led to a devastating bout of pneumonia."

Guillaume - who was crowned Best Newcomer at the French Oscars in 1996 - had been in poor health for several years following a motorcycle crash in 1995, which saw him undergo 17 operations, including having his left leg amputated in 2003 after contracting an infection.

He had also battled drug addiction and admitted to sleeping with men for money.

Guillaume had a difficult relationship with his father, though they recently reconciled.

In his 2004 autobiography 'Tout Donner', Guillaume accused his father of being a money-obsessed alcoholic who had neglected him as a child.

In the book - which Gerard called "shameless" - he wrote: "I love him and detest him for the same reasons. For his impotence, for his way of fleeing life and existence and fighting against it. He is stupid. He is hopeless."

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