Diego Borella, assistant director on Emily in Paris, died on August 23 after collapsing on set. The 47-year-old suddenly fell ill Thursday evening around 7 p.m. in Venice, where the season’s primary shoot was scheduled. Medical teams rushed in and tried to revive him on site, but he was pronounced dead within minutes. The Lily Collins–led Netflix series had put production on hold before resuming on Saturday.
Diego Borella passes away at 47
Borella, not just a crew hire but a respected Venetian professional, was reportedly setting up for a scene at the iconic Hotel Danieli when he collapsed. Local doctors later said he likely suffered a sudden heart attack, though the official cause of death is still pending. “We are deeply saddened to confirm the sudden passing of a member of the Emily in Paris production family,” a spokesperson for Paramount Television Studios said in a statement. “Our hearts go out to the individual’s family and loved ones during this incredibly difficult time.” Borella, considered one of the most valued members of the crew, had trained in Rome, London, and New York. Beyond his film work, he was also active in the visual arts and literature. For the Netflix show’s fifth instalment, he had been hired locally as a third assistant director.
Season 5 of Emily in Paris had started filming earlier in Europe, first in Rome back in May, then in Paris in June, before moving to Venice in August. Alongside Lily Collins, the season also brings back familiar faces, including Philippine Leroy-Beaulieu, Ashley Park, Lucas Bravo, Samuel Arnold, Bruno Gouery, William Abadie, Lucien Laviscount, Eugenio Franceschini, Thalia Besson, Paul Forman, Arnaud Binard, Minnie Driver, Bryan Greenberg, and Michèle Laroque.
Just days before Borella’s sudden death, Collins, the show’s lead actor, had shared happy behind-the-scenes photos from Venice. From a picture of her on a boat to a pier with co-star Ashley Park, calling it a “joy ride to and from work. Netflix unveiled the first look and premiere date of season 5 last week.
Also read: Netflix announces season 5 of Emily in Paris, and this time she is going to Venice, watch
Created and written by Darren Star, the romantic comedy series first aired in 2020 during the pandemic and became a Netflix hit. Season 4 of the show saw Emily moving to Rome to work in Sylvie’s new Agence Grateau office. Leaving chef Gabrielle behind, Emily found love in Marcello. The official synopsis of the show reads: “Now the head of Agence Grateau Rome, Emily faces professional and romantic challenges as she adapts to life in a new city. But just as everything falls into place, a work idea backfires, and the fallout cascades into heartbreak and career setbacks. Seeking stability, Emily leans into her French lifestyle until a big secret threatens one of her closest relationships. Tackling conflict with honesty, Emily emerges with deeper connections, renewed clarity, and a readiness to embrace new possibilities.”