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Marjane Satrapi, 'Persepolis' author, dies at 56

5 sources · 05 Jun 2026 · Share coverage ·

verbatim from the press composed from multiple sources

Franco-Iranian author and filmmaker Marjane Satrapi died at age 56 in Paris on Thursday (4), little more than a year after her husband Mattias Ripa's death. According to a statement from her family to AFP, "Marjane Satrapi died of sadness more than a year after the death of Mattias Ripa, her husband and the love of her life." The Swedish producer, actor and director had died on April 8, 2025.

Press quotes (1)
France24

"Franco-Iranian author and film director Marjane Satrapi, renowned for her graphic novel and film "Persepolis", has died aged 56, a year after the passing of "the love of her life", a member of her close circle told AFP on Thursday."

Satrapi achieved worldwide fame with "Persepolis" (2000), an autobiographical graphic novel that narrates her youth in Iran under the ayatollahs' regime, the repression suffered by the Iranian people and her departure to Europe. Exiled in France since 1994 and naturalized French in 2006, she depicted with simple black and white strokes the complexity of Iranian society during Ayatollah Khomeini's rise to power in 1979.

Press quotes (1)
Correio do Povo

"Exilada na França desde 1994 e naturalizada francesa em 2006, Satrapi alcançou a fama com sua saga autobiográfica "Persépolis" (2000), na qual narra sua juventude no Irã sob o regime dos aiatolás, a repressão sofrida pelo povo iraniano e sua dolorosa partida para a Europa."

The work was adapted for cinema in 2007 in partnership with Vincent Paronnaud, winning the Jury Prize at the Cannes Film Festival and being nominated for the Oscar for Best Animated Film. "Although this film is universal, I want to dedicate it to all Iranians," Satrapi declared at Cannes. In 2024, she was honored with the Princess of Asturias Award for Communication and Humanities in Spain for being "an essential voice in defense of human rights and freedom."

Press quotes (1)
Correio do Povo

"Persépolis", adaptada para o cinema em 2007 em parceria com Vincent Paronnaud, ganhou o Prêmio do Júri no Festival de Cannes e foi indicado ao Oscar de Melhor Filme de Animação. "Embora este filme seja universal, quero dedicá-lo a todos os iranianos", declarou a artista em Cannes."

In recent years, she remained a fierce opponent of Tehran authorities. In 2023, she coordinated the book "Femme, vie, liberté" ("Woman, Life, Freedom"), in which artists illustrated the protests in Iran after Mahsa Amini's death in 2022. In 2025, she refused the French Legion of Honor to denounce France's "hypocritical attitude towards Iran." French President Emmanuel Macron paid tribute to "an immense artist who transformed an Iranian childhood into a universal fable."

Press quotes (1)
GaúchaZH

"Em 2024, Satrapi, autora também de Bordados (2003) e Frango com Ameixas (2004), ambos inspirados em seu país natal, recebeu na Espanha o prêmio Princesa das Astúrias de Comunicação e Humanidades por ser "uma voz essencial na defesa dos direitos humanos e da liberdade"."

1. What we know (2)

Satrapi died little more than a year after her husband Mattias Ripa's death on April 8, 2025

4 sources Correio do Povo GaúchaZH Opera Mundi Tvtnews

Persepolis was adapted for cinema in 2007 with Vincent Paronnaud, winning award at Cannes and Oscar nomination

4 sources Correio do Povo GaúchaZH Opera Mundi Tvtnews
2. Where coverage thins out (2)

Covered by only some sources, or where the accounts diverge.

Covered by only some sources (2)

In 2024, the New York Times selected Persepolis as one of the 100 best books of the 21st century

Reported by: Tvtnews

Satrapi created in February 2026 the Mattias and Marjane Ripa-Satrapi Film Foundation

Reported by: Correio do Povo GaúchaZH Tvtnews
Did not cover: Opera Mundi
3. What we don't know yet (3)
  • What were the specific medical circumstances of death?

    Why it's still unknown: The family only reported she "died of sadness," without disclosing official medical cause or specific location of death in Paris.

    Did not cover: Correio do Povo GaúchaZH Opera Mundi Tvtnews
  • How will the funeral be conducted and where will burial take place?

    Why it's still unknown: No outlet reported details about funeral ceremonies or burial location.

    Did not cover: Correio do Povo GaúchaZH Opera Mundi Tvtnews
  • What is the fate of the Mattias and Marjane Ripa-Satrapi Foundation created in February?

    Why it's still unknown: The foundation to support foreign film students was created just months ago, but there's no information about continuity after the co-founder's death.

All sources

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