Kavinsky, the French DJ, producer and actor best known for the track "Nightcall" from the film Drive, has died at the age of 50. He was found dead at his home in Paris on Tuesday, with local authorities investigating the cause; the BBC reports he had been suffering from headaches beforehand and officials believe he may have had a stroke. His death has prompted tributes from senior French political figures, reflecting his standing as a significant cultural figure in France.

Born Vincent Pierre Claude Belorgey, Kavinsky began as an actor in the early 2000s before building a music career during the blog-house era, performing under a self-created "zombie" persona inspired by 1980s film soundtracks. He released his debut EP Teddy Boy in 2006, opened for Daft Punk, and in 2010 released "Nightcall" with CSS singer Lovefoxxx, which became a top-10 hit in France after featuring in Drive. His debut album OutRun followed in 2013, then 2022's Reborn after a long hiatus; a viral 2024 Paris Olympics Closing Ceremony performance of "Nightcall" with Phoenix and Angèle sent the song back to number three in France. President Emmanuel Macron and culture minister Catherine Pégard both paid tribute to his lasting cultural impact.