Christian Clavier

Christian Clavier — Biography

Christian Clavier (born 6 May 1952 in Paris) is a French actor, screenwriter, producer and director. In the 1970s he co-founded the Parisian café-théâtre troupe Le Splendid alongside Gérard Jugnot, Thierry Lhermitte, Michel Blanc, Marie-Anne Chazel and Josiane Balasko, and became nationally known through film adaptations of the group's stage hits, including Les Bronzés (1978), Les Bronzés font du ski (1979) and Le père Noël est une ordure (1982).

He later formed a lasting partnership with director Jean-Marie Poiré, co-writing and starring in major box-office successes such as Les Visiteurs (1993), Les Anges gardiens (1995) and Les Couloirs du temps (1998). He cemented his popularity by playing Asterix in Asterix and Obelix vs. Caesar (1999) and Mission Cleopatra (2002). On television he took on dramatic parts, portraying Thénardier in Les Misérables (2000) and the title role in the Napoleon miniseries (2002). He was made a Knight of the Legion of Honour in 2008 and is the brother of director Stéphane Clavier.