Marjane Satrapi, the Iranian-born French artist dies at 56

Marjane Satrapi, the Iranian-born French artist, animator, and filmmaker celebrated worldwide for her groundbreaking work Persepolis and the Rosamund Pike–led biopic Radioactive, has passed away at the age of 56.

Her family and close friends confirmed the news, noting that Satrapi “died of sadness” just over a year after losing her husband, producer and actor Mattias Ripa, who died in April 2025.

“Marjane Satrapi died of sadness a little over a year after the death of Mattias Ripa, her husband and the love of her life,” the statement shared with AFP news wire read.

Marjane Satrapi’s personal life

Satrapi moved to France in the early 1990s, sent abroad by her parents to escape the restrictions of post-revolution Iran.

Her formative years under Ayatollah Khomeini’s regime became the basis for her acclaimed graphic novel Persepolis, later adapted into the award-winning 2007 animated feature co-directed with Vincent Paronnaud.

Marjane Satrapi’s career

The duo collaborated again on Chicken with Plums, inspired by her family history in Iran. Satrapi then transitioned into live-action with Gang of the Jotas (2012), a quirky crime comedy in which she also starred alongside Ripa. Hollywood soon came calling, leading to her directing Ryan Reynolds and Gemma Arterton in The Voices (2014), followed by Radioactive (2019), produced by Working Title.

Her final project was Dear Paris, a dark ensemble comedy weaving together stories of longtime Parisians confronting mortality featuring Monica Bellucci, Roschdy Zem, Alex Lutz, and André Dussollier.

Satrapi leaves behind a legacy of bold, deeply personal storytelling that bridged cultures and genres, cementing her place as one of the most distinctive voices in contemporary cinema.