Christian Clavier

Christian Clavier

1952-05-06

Biography

Christian Clavier is a French actor, screenwriter, film producer and film director. He is the brother of French film director Stéphane Clavier. After his high class studies at the Neuilly Lycée Pasteur—though asserted here and there, he never studied at Institut d'Études Politiques de Paris (Sciences Po) —he started his actor career with the comedic theater troupe Splendid, which had hits with films like Les Bronzés font du ski and Le Père Noël est une ordure. His most notable success without the Splendid group, and by far his biggest hit to date, was in the 1993 film les Visiteurs, where he played a character known as Jacquouille la fripouille; the character's cry of "Okkkayyy!!" became a popular exclamation after the movie's success. After les Visiteurs he was a certified star, participating in big-budget films like Astérix et Obélix contre César, Astérix & Obélix: Mission Cléopâtre, and the sequel and remake of Visiteurs. He also played several dramatic roles on television, including M. Thénardier in Les Misérables (2000 television version) and Napoléon in a biographical television film. Clavier has played in notable duos with: Jean Reno in les Visiteurs (the Visitors) and the US remake, Just Visiting, L'Opération Corned-Beef and L'Enquête corse (The Corsican investigation). Gérard Depardieu in Astérix et Obélix (Asterix and Obelix) and Les anges gardiens. He also runs a production company, Ouille Production. He was made Chevalier (Knight) of the Ordre national du Mérite on 13 June 1998, and promoted Officier (Officer) in 2005. He was made Chevalier (Knight) of the Légion d'honneur in 2008. He is a friend of former French président Nicolas Sarkozy, and recently emigrated to England as a result of Francois Hollande's punitive tax policy, mirrored in his Astérix co-star Gérard Depardieu's self-imposed exile to Belgium.

Also appears in

Serial (Bad) Weddings

Serial (Bad) Weddings

6.7

Asterix & Obelix: Mission Cleopatra

Asterix & Obelix: Mission Cleopatra

7.4

French Fried Vacation 2

French Fried Vacation 2

7.3

Asterix & Obelix Take on Caesar

Asterix & Obelix Take on Caesar

6.0

The Visitors

The Visitors

7.1

Cocorico

Cocorico

5.5

Asterix: The Secret of the Magic Potion

Asterix: The Secret of the Magic Potion

6.9

A Bag of Marbles

A Bag of Marbles

7.8

Serial (Bad) Weddings 3

Serial (Bad) Weddings 3

6.3

Babysitting 2

Babysitting 2

6.3

The Visitors: Bastille Day

The Visitors: Bastille Day

4.1

Serial (Bad) Weddings 2

Serial (Bad) Weddings 2

5.9

Guardian Angels

Guardian Angels

6.2

The Thirst for Gold

The Thirst for Gold

5.4

Just Visiting

Just Visiting

4.7

If I Were a Boy

If I Were a Boy

5.3

French Fried Vacation

French Fried Vacation

6.6

The Visitors II: The Corridors of Time

The Visitors II: The Corridors of Time

6.0

Christmas with the Tuches

Christmas with the Tuches

5.0

French Fried Vacations 3: Friends Forever

French Fried Vacations 3: Friends Forever

4.1