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Marjane Satrapi, Author and Filmmaker Behind Persepolis, Dies at 56

The French-Iranian artist was the creator of the acclaimed graphic memoir that was later adapted into an animated film.

Iran, Panoramic views of Persepolis
Iran, Panoramic views of Persepolis      Marjane Satrapi Persepolis    Hansueli Krapf / Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA 3.0)
By Free News Press Editorial Team
Published June 4, 2026 at 1:18 PM PDT

Marjane Satrapi, the French-Iranian author and filmmaker best known for creating Persepolis, has died at the age of 56.

The news was reported by multiple outlets including Euronews, The New York Times, CNN, France 24, and Le Monde. France 24 reported that Satrapi died of sadness, though no further details on the cause of death were immediately available from the source material.

Satrapi was born in Iran and became one of the most recognized voices in graphic literature. Persepolis, her autobiographical graphic memoir, chronicled her childhood in Iran during and after the Islamic Revolution and her later years living in Europe. The book was later adapted into an animated feature film, which brought her work to an even broader international audience.

She was 56 years old.

Marjane Satrapi during a premiere of her film Persepolis
Marjane Satrapi during a premiere of her film Per…      Marjane Satrapi Persepolis    Rama / Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA 2.0 fr)