On September 23, 2025, news surfaced announcing the death of Claudia Cardinale, the renowned actress from Once Upon a Time in the West and The Pink Panther. She was 87 years old and passed away near Paris, France, in the presence of her children, according to her agent cited by France24. Antonio Banderas, who had recently paid homage to Robert Redford, took to Instagram once again to express his respect for the iconic Italian actress.
In the early hours of September 24, Banderas posted a heartfelt message accompanied by a photo featuring himself alongside Cardinale, addressing his four million followers.
A final farewell to Claudia Cardinale,
he wrote.
We say goodbye to a great muse of Italian cinema and one of Europe’s greatest actresses. RIP.
This tribute attracted numerous fans who shared their own condolences and memories in the comments. One follower expressed sorrow, writing,
I’m very sad to hear the news, Claudia was my favourite Italian Actress. May she RIP.
Another remarked,
Like an angel in our lives…
while others remembered her as a Muse, icon, beautiful Italian actress.
Tribute from ‘Hart to Hart’ Veteran Stefanie Powers
Stefanie Powers, known for her role in Hart to Hart, also mourned the loss on Instagram. She recalled her time working with Cardinale, mentioning their film Escape to Athena, which premiered in 1979. Powers reflected on the enduring friendships formed during the project.
Our lovely cast in ‘Escape to Athena,’ our friendships endured through all these years,
she began.
Now we’ve just lost Claudia, who’ll be with Roger and David, and I hope I don’t join them for a long time.
Claudia Cardinale’s Daughter Celebrates Her Mother’s Enduring Spirit
Claudia Cardinale is survived by her two children, Patrick Cristaldi and Claudia Squitieri. Her daughter Claudia shared insights about her mother’s resilience in an article for Elle a few years ago. She described Cardinale’s unwavering strength amidst the challenges faced by women in cinema.
An indomitable flame is a flame that cannot be extinguished, and this, in my opinion, is how one might define the inextinguishable nature of my mother Claudia,
she wrote.
Her career took its first steps when female emancipation was a subversive, lateral discourse; the management and domination of an actress took many forms, all considered legitimate and routinely practiced.
Yet, anyone who knew her or had an inkling of her will have noticed how she always managed to preserve something of herself, never completely giving in: never letting herself be extinguished.
With over 120 acting credits, alongside her role as a mother, Cardinale leaves behind a significant legacy in European cinema and beyond.
