Marjane Satrapi, the French-Iranian graphic novelist and filmmaker best known for her memoir graphic novel “Persepolis,” dies at 56. Multiple outlets report that her family and close associates confirm the death in Paris. France 24 and South China Morning Post add that those close to Satrapi say she died of “sadness,” shortly after the death of her husband, Mattias Ripa, described by the South China Morning Post as the love of her life and who died about a year earlier.

Born in Rasht, Iran, in 1969, Satrapi later moved to France, arriving in 1994 and becoming a French national in 2006, according to the South China Morning Post. “Persepolis” first appeared in 2000 and is widely credited with influencing how comics, memoir, and political storytelling are understood internationally, with coverage emphasizing its emotional and visual storytelling. The Hollywood Reporter notes that Satrapi directed a biographical animated feature adaptation about growing up in Iran after the revolution that was nominated for an Oscar. Western media and politicians also issue tributes after her death, while additional commentary highlights her broader impact on artists and future generations.