Marjane Satrapi, ‘Persepolis’ author, dies at 56

Marjane Satrapi, the Franco-Iranian creator of the graphic memoir Persepolis, died Thursday in Paris, her family told AFP.france24
Her family said she “died of sadness” after withdrawing from public life following her husband Mattias Ripa‘s death in April 2025.ara
Satrapi co-directed an Oscar-nominated animated adaptation of Persepolis and was a prominent advocate for human rights in Iran.nobelpeaceprize

Persepolis Author Marjane Satrapi Dies at 56

Franco-Iranian graphic novelist, filmmaker, and illustrator Marjane Satrapi, whose autobiographical graphic novel Persepolis became one of the most celebrated works of comics literature, has died in Paris at the age of 56. Her family announced her death on Thursday, June 4, 2026.france24

‘Died of Sadness’

In a statement sent to AFP, Satrapi’s family said she “died of sadness a little over a year after the death of Mattias Ripa, her husband and the love of her life.” Ripa, a Swedish producer, actor, and screenwriter, died on April 8, 2025. According to multiple reports, Satrapi had withdrawn from public life in the months following her husband’s death.ara

A Life in Art and Resistance

Born on November 22, 1969, in Rasht, Iran, Satrapi grew up during the Islamic Revolution and the Iran-Iraq War — experiences that formed the basis of Persepolis, first published in French in 2000. The spare, black-and-white graphic memoir told the story of her childhood under theocratic rule and her years as a teenage exile in Europe. Its English translation, published in 2003, brought her international acclaim.wikipedia

Satrapi co-directed an animated film adaptation of Persepolis in 2007, which was nominated for the Academy Award for Best Animated Feature. She went on to direct several live-action films, including The Voices (2014), starring Ryan Reynolds, and Radioactive (2019), a biopic of Marie Curie.nobelpeaceprize

Beyond her artistic work, Satrapi was a persistent advocate for human rights in Iran. In September 2023, she published Woman, Life, Freedom, a graphic novel created with 20 artists in support of the protest movement that followed the death of Mahsa Jini Amini. In January 2025, she publicly declined France’s Legion of Honor, citing the country’s “hypocrisy” toward Iran.artforum

Legacy

Satrapi’s work bridged cultures and art forms, making the Iranian experience accessible to millions of readers and viewers worldwide. Her graphic memoirs remain widely taught in schools and universities, and Persepolis has been translated into dozens of languages. Her death drew tributes from human rights organizations, including the Narges Mohammadi Foundation, which noted her lifelong commitment to freedom of expression.x