François Cluzet
Encyclopedia
François Cluzet is a French film and theatre actor, best known in the English-speaking world for starring in the 2006 French film "Tell No One
", based on the novel
of the same name by the American author Harlan Coben
. He won the 2007 César Award
for Best Actor for his role as Dr Alexander Beck in the film.
. A year later, Cluzet appears in Cheval d'orgueil written by Claude Chabrol
, a director he works with again in 1982 for Les Fantômes du chapelier. In 1983, he plays in L'Été meurtrier with Jean Becker, for which he won a César
nomination for best supporting role of the year, while at the same time making the list for best new male for his role in Vive la sociale.
Cluzet collaborated next with some of the biggest French directors, all of whom had a predilection towards dramatic works: reuniting with Diane Kurys
in 1983 for Coup de foudre, reuniting with Bertrand Tavernier
(the star of Autour de minuit in 1985), Tony Gatlif
(Rue du départ, 1985), Claire Denis
(Chocolat
, 1987), Pierre Jolivet
(Force majeure, 1988 and one new César
nomination for best second male role), Bertrand Blier
(Trop belle pour toi
, 1989) and again Robert Enrico
(La Révolution française
). Next, the actor found Claude Chabrol
for a role of a husband tortured by jealousy in L'Enfer (1994) after having filmed with Chabrol in 1988 for Une affaire de femmes.
In 1994, Cluzet tried international cinema, with participations in Prêt-à-porter with Robert Altman
and in French Kiss with Lawrence Kasdan
. He returned to French cinema and comedy in 1995 with Les Apprentis (César nomination for best actor) and Enfants de salaud with Tonie Marshall, following a new Claude Chabrol
: Rien ne va plus in 1997 au cinéma. Cluzet often portrayed a role of the tormented writer: Fin août, début septembre with Olivier Assayas
, L'Examen de minuit (1998), and Je suis un assassin (2004). He performed the double of John Lennon
in Janis et John (2003) and an animator of tele-shopping in France Boutique (2004). In 2005, he played in Le Domaine perdu with Raoul Ruiz
, which portrayed the coup d'état of Chile
in 1973.
2006 was a big year for Cluzet with his role of an over-the-hill F1 champion, touching and naive, paralysed with love for Isabelle Carré
in Quatre étoiles. But it was his interpretation of Alexandre Beck in the thriller Tell No One
with Guillaume Canet
which put him ahead of the scene. For this portrayal, he received a César for best actor in 2007.
Cluzet has a son Paul (who is the son of the late actress Marie Trintignant
) as well as three other children: Blanche, Joseph and Marguerite.
In September 2009, during a TV news show, Cluzet openly mentioned his support for Salah Hamouri, a Franco-Palestinian held in an Israeli prison, to the surprise of the TV host and the Member of Parliament present during the show, Jean-François Copé
.
Tell No One
Tell No One is a 2006 French thriller film directed by Guillaume Canet and based on the novel of the same name by Harlan Coben. It was written by Guillame Canet and Philippe Lefèbvre and stars François Cluzet...
", based on the novel
Novel
A novel is a book of long narrative in literary prose. The genre has historical roots both in the fields of the medieval and early modern romance and in the tradition of the novella. The latter supplied the present generic term in the late 18th century....
of the same name by the American author Harlan Coben
Harlan Coben
Harlan Coben is an American author of mystery novels and thrillers. The plots of his novels often involve the resurfacing of unresolved or misinterpreted events in the past and often have multiple plot twists...
. He won the 2007 César Award
César Award
The César Award is the national film award of France, first given out in 1975. The nominations are selected by the members of the Académie des arts et techniques du cinéma....
for Best Actor for his role as Dr Alexander Beck in the film.
Biography
François Cluzet grew up in Paris, and made a stage debut in 1976. He made his première appearance on the big screen in 1979 in Cocktail Molotov with Diane KurysDiane Kurys
Diane Kurys is a French filmmaker and actress. Several of her films as director are autobiographical. Born in Lyon, Rhône, France, her parents divorced when she was a child. She began as an actress with Jean-Louis Barrault's company. She gained film stardom, but didn't like the roles she was...
. A year later, Cluzet appears in Cheval d'orgueil written by Claude Chabrol
Claude Chabrol
Claude Chabrol was a French film director, a member of the French New Wave group of filmmakers who first came to prominence at the end of the 1950s...
, a director he works with again in 1982 for Les Fantômes du chapelier. In 1983, he plays in L'Été meurtrier with Jean Becker, for which he won a César
César Award
The César Award is the national film award of France, first given out in 1975. The nominations are selected by the members of the Académie des arts et techniques du cinéma....
nomination for best supporting role of the year, while at the same time making the list for best new male for his role in Vive la sociale.
Cluzet collaborated next with some of the biggest French directors, all of whom had a predilection towards dramatic works: reuniting with Diane Kurys
Diane Kurys
Diane Kurys is a French filmmaker and actress. Several of her films as director are autobiographical. Born in Lyon, Rhône, France, her parents divorced when she was a child. She began as an actress with Jean-Louis Barrault's company. She gained film stardom, but didn't like the roles she was...
in 1983 for Coup de foudre, reuniting with Bertrand Tavernier
Bertrand Tavernier
Bertrand Tavernier is a French director, screenwriter, actor, and producer.-Life and career:Tavernier was born in Lyon, the son of Geneviève and René Tavernier, a publicist and writer, several years president of the French PEN club. Tavernier wanted to become a filmmaker since the age of thirteen...
(the star of Autour de minuit in 1985), Tony Gatlif
Tony Gatlif
Tony Gatlif is a French film director of Romani ethnicity who also works as a screenwriter, composer, actor, and producer.- Biography :...
(Rue du départ, 1985), Claire Denis
Claire Denis
Claire Denis is a French film director and Professor of Film at the European Graduate School in Saas-Fee, Switzerland.-Early life:...
(Chocolat
Chocolat (1988 film)
Chocolat is a 1988 film directed by Claire Denis, about a French family that lives in colonial Cameroon. Marc and Aimée Dalens are the parents of France , a young girl who befriends Protée , a Cameroon native who is the family's household servant...
, 1987), Pierre Jolivet
Pierre Jolivet
Pierre Jolivet is a French director, actor and script-writer. His film Zim and Co. was screened in the Un Certain Regard section at the 2005 Cannes Film Festival....
(Force majeure, 1988 and one new César
César Award
The César Award is the national film award of France, first given out in 1975. The nominations are selected by the members of the Académie des arts et techniques du cinéma....
nomination for best second male role), Bertrand Blier
Bertrand Blier
Bertrand Blier is a French screenwriter and film director.Born in Boulogne-Billancourt, France. He is the son of Bernard Blier....
(Trop belle pour toi
Trop belle pour toi
Too Beautiful for You is a 1989 French comedy film-drama film written and directed by Bertrand Blier. It tells the story of Bernard , a well established BMW car dealer in the South of France, is cheating on his beautiful wife with his ordinary looking temporary secretary .-Cast :* Gérard...
, 1989) and again Robert Enrico
Robert Enrico
Robert Georgio Enrico was a French film director and scriptwriter.He was born in Liévin, Pas-de-Calais, in the north of France.-Filmography as director:* Fait d'hiver...
(La Révolution française
La Révolution française (film)
La Révolution française is a two-part film, co-produced by France, Germany, Italy, the United Kingdom and Canada. The first part, titled La Révolution française : les Années lumière was directed by Robert Enrico. The second part, La Révolution française : les Années terribles, was directed by...
). Next, the actor found Claude Chabrol
Claude Chabrol
Claude Chabrol was a French film director, a member of the French New Wave group of filmmakers who first came to prominence at the end of the 1950s...
for a role of a husband tortured by jealousy in L'Enfer (1994) after having filmed with Chabrol in 1988 for Une affaire de femmes.
In 1994, Cluzet tried international cinema, with participations in Prêt-à-porter with Robert Altman
Robert Altman
Robert Bernard Altman was an American film director and screenwriter known for making films that are highly naturalistic, but with a stylized perspective. In 2006, the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences recognized his body of work with an Academy Honorary Award.His films MASH , McCabe and...
and in French Kiss with Lawrence Kasdan
Lawrence Kasdan
Lawrence Edward "Larry" Kasdan is an American film producer, director and screenwriter.-Life and career:Kasdan was born in Miami, Florida, the son of Sylvia Sarah , an employment counselor, and Clarence Norman Kasdan, who managed retail electronics stores.His Brother is the writer/producer Mark...
. He returned to French cinema and comedy in 1995 with Les Apprentis (César nomination for best actor) and Enfants de salaud with Tonie Marshall, following a new Claude Chabrol
Claude Chabrol
Claude Chabrol was a French film director, a member of the French New Wave group of filmmakers who first came to prominence at the end of the 1950s...
: Rien ne va plus in 1997 au cinéma. Cluzet often portrayed a role of the tormented writer: Fin août, début septembre with Olivier Assayas
Olivier Assayas
Olivier Assayas is a French film director and screenwriter.He made his debut in 1986, after directing some short films and writing for the influential film magazine Cahiers du cinéma.-Career:...
, L'Examen de minuit (1998), and Je suis un assassin (2004). He performed the double of John Lennon
John Lennon
John Winston Lennon, MBE was an English musician and singer-songwriter who rose to worldwide fame as one of the founding members of The Beatles, one of the most commercially successful and critically acclaimed acts in the history of popular music...
in Janis et John (2003) and an animator of tele-shopping in France Boutique (2004). In 2005, he played in Le Domaine perdu with Raoul Ruiz
Raoul Ruiz
Raúl Ernesto Ruiz Pino was a Chilean filmmaker.Ruiz spent some years at the Catholic University of Santa Fe, Argentina's cinema school. Back in Chile, he directed his first feature film Tres tristes tigres in the late 1960s, winning the Golden Leopard at the Locarno Film Festival...
, which portrayed the coup d'état of Chile
Chile
Chile ,officially the Republic of Chile , is a country in South America occupying a long, narrow coastal strip between the Andes mountains to the east and the Pacific Ocean to the west. It borders Peru to the north, Bolivia to the northeast, Argentina to the east, and the Drake Passage in the far...
in 1973.
2006 was a big year for Cluzet with his role of an over-the-hill F1 champion, touching and naive, paralysed with love for Isabelle Carré
Isabelle Carré
Isabelle Carré is a French actress, who has appeared in more than 40 films since 1989. She won a César Award for Best Actress for her role in Se souvenir des belles choses , and has been nominated a further six times, for Beau fixe , Le Hussard sur le toit , La Femme défendue , Les Sentiments ,...
in Quatre étoiles. But it was his interpretation of Alexandre Beck in the thriller Tell No One
Tell No One
Tell No One is a 2006 French thriller film directed by Guillaume Canet and based on the novel of the same name by Harlan Coben. It was written by Guillame Canet and Philippe Lefèbvre and stars François Cluzet...
with Guillaume Canet
Guillaume Canet
Guillaume Canet is a French actor and film director.Canet began his career in theatre and television before moving to film. He starred in several films like Joyeux Noël, Love Me If You Dare and The Beach...
which put him ahead of the scene. For this portrayal, he received a César for best actor in 2007.
Cluzet has a son Paul (who is the son of the late actress Marie Trintignant
Marie Trintignant
-Early life:She was born in Boulogne-Billancourt, the daughter of actor Jean-Louis Trintignant and his second wife Nadine Marquand. She first appeared on screen aged 4 in her mother's film, My Love, My Love. When Marie's baby sister Pauline died when Marie was 8, she became withdrawn and virtually...
) as well as three other children: Blanche, Joseph and Marguerite.
In September 2009, during a TV news show, Cluzet openly mentioned his support for Salah Hamouri, a Franco-Palestinian held in an Israeli prison, to the surprise of the TV host and the Member of Parliament present during the show, Jean-François Copé
Jean-François Copé
Jean-François Copé , is a French politician. He is currently Mayor of Meaux, Deputy for the 6th constituency of Seine-et-Marne, and acts as President of the Union for a Popular Movement Group in the French National Assembly...
.
Filmography
- 1979 : Cocktail Molotov
- 1980 : Le Cheval d'orgueilThe Horse of PrideThe Horse of Pride. is a 1980 film directed by Claude Chabrol. It's title in French is Le cheval d'orgueil. It is based on Le cheval d'orgueil, an autobiography by Pêr-Jakez Helias...
- 1982 : Les Fantômes du chapelierThe Hatter's GhostThe Hatter's Ghost is a 1982 film directed by Claude Chabrol. It is based on the 1947 novel Le Petit Tailleur et le Chapelier by Georges Simenon. The film takes place in Brittany and was shot in the towns of Concarneau and Quimper.-Plot:...
- 1982 : Coup de foudre
- 1983 : One Deadly Summer (L'Été meurtrier)
- 1983 : Vive la sociale !
- 1984 : Les Enragés
- 1985 : Round MidnightRound Midnight (film)Round Midnight is a 1986 film directed by Bertrand Tavernier and written by David Rayfiel and Bertrand Tavernier. It tells the story of an African American tenor saxophone player in Paris in the 1950s who is befriended by an unsuccessful French graphic designer who idolizes the musician and who...
(Autour de minuit) - 1985 : États d'âme
- 1985 : Elsa, Elsa
- 1985 : Rue du départ
- 1987 : Association of WrongdoersAssociation of Wrongdoers-Plot:Gérard and Thierry are business partners who are accused of stealing a safe from a wealthy tycoon in this situation comedy. A practical joke backfires when the two make their colleague Daniel believe he has won the lottery. The owner of the safe calls the police, who chase after the scheming...
- 1987 : Jaune revolver
- 1988 : Chocolat
- 1988 : Force majeure
- 1988 : Story of WomenStory of WomenStory of Women is a 1988 French drama film directed by Claude Chabrol based on the true story of Marie-Louise Giraud, guillotined on July 30, 1943, for having performed 27 abortions in the Cherbourg area, and the book by Francis Szpiner. It premiered at the Toronto Film Festival.-Plot:Isabelle...
(Une affaire de femmes) - 1988 : Deux
- 1989 : Roundabout (Un tour de manègeUn tour de manègeUn Tour de Manège , Once Around the Park ) is a 1989 French film starring Juliette Binoche, François Cluzet and Denis Lavant. It is the first and to date only film directed by the acclaimed French theatre director Pierre Pradinas...
) - 1989 : Too Beautiful for You (Trop belle pour toi)
- 1989 : La Révolution française
- 1991 : À demain
- 1992 : Sexes faibles
- 1992 : L'Instinct de l'ange
- 1994 : Le Vent du Wyoming
- 1994 : L'EnferL'Enfer (1994 film)L'Enfer is a 1994 French film directed by Claude Chabrol. It was adapted by Chabrol from the screenplay by Henri-Georges Clouzot for the unfinished film L'Enfer, which Clouzot began shooting in 1964 but was unable to complete...
- 1994 : Prêt-à-porter
- 1995 : Dialogue au sommet
- 1995 : French Kiss
- 1995 : The Horseman on the RoofThe Horseman on the RoofThe Horseman on the Roof is a 1995 French film directed by Jean-Paul Rappeneau, and starring Juliette Binoche and Olivier Martinez...
(Le Hussard sur le toit) - 1995 : Les Apprentis
- 1996 : Enfants de salaud
- 1996 : Le Silence de Rak
- 1997 : Le Déménagement
- 1997 : Rien ne va plus
- 1997 : La Voie est libre
- 1998 : L'Examen de minuit
- 1998 : Fin août, début septembre
- 1998 : Dolce Farniente
- 2001 : L'AdversaireL'AdversaireThe Adversary is a 2002 French drama film directed by Nicole Garcia, starring Daniel Auteuil and Géraldine Pailhas.Based on the 2000 book of the same name by Emmanuel Carrère, it is inspired by the real-life story of Jean-Claude Romand...
- 2002 : Mon accident
- 2002 : Mais qui a tué Pamela Rose ?
- 2002 : Janis et John
- 2002 : France Boutique
- 2002 : La Famille Guérin, (TV series)
- 2003 : Quand je vois le soleil
- 2003 : Je suis un assassin
- 2004 : La Cloche a sonné
- 2006 : Quatre étoiles
- 2006 : Tell No One (Ne le dis à personne)Tell No OneTell No One is a 2006 French thriller film directed by Guillaume Canet and based on the novel of the same name by Harlan Coben. It was written by Guillame Canet and Philippe Lefèbvre and stars François Cluzet...
- 2007 : Ma Place au soleil
- 2007 : La Vérité ou presque
- 2007 : Détrompez-vousDétrompez-vousDétrompez-vous is a 2007 French film directed by Bruno Dega. The film stars François Cluzet, Mathilde Seigner, Roschdy Zem, Alice Taglioni, Florence Foresti, Philippe Lefebvre, Talina Boyaci....
- 2008 : Les Liens du Sang
- 2008 : ParisParis (2008 film)Paris is a 2008 French film by Cédric Klapisch concerning a diverse group of people living in Paris. The film began shooting in November 2006 and was released in February 2008. Its UK release was in July 2008...
- 2009 : In the BeginningIn the Beginning (2009 film)In the Beginning is a 2009 French drama film directed by Xavier Giannoli. The film competed in the main competition at the 62nd Cannes Film Festival.- Cast :* François Cluzet* Gérard Depardieu* Emmanuelle Devos* Brice Fournier - Louis* Roch Leibovici...
- 2010 : Little White Lies (Les petits mouchoirs)
- 2011 : IntouchablesIntouchablesIntouchables is a French film directed by Olivier Nakache and Éric Toledano.-Plot:After a paragliding accident that left him paralyzed, Philippe hires Driss to help him.-Background:...
- 2011 : The Art of LoveThe Art of Love (2011 film)- Distribution :* Emmanuel Mouret : Louis* François Cluzet : Achille* Frédérique Bel : Achille's Neighbor* Julie Depardieu : Isabelle* Judith Godrèche : Amélie* Laurent Stocker : Boris* Elodie Navarre : Vanessa* Gaspard Ulliel : William...
Television
- 1984 : Aveugle, que veux-tu ?
- 1988 : Sueurs froides : À la mémoire d'un ange de Claire DeversClaire DeversClaire Devers is a French director and writer. She was nominated for the 1987 César Award for Best Debut for directing Noir et Blanc .- Filmography :*Noir et Blanc *Chimère...
Theatre
- 1992 : Belgicae by Anita Van Belle, directed by Pierre Pradinas, at the Festival d'AvignonFestival d'AvignonThe Festival d'Avignon, or Avignon Festival, is an annual arts festival held in the French city of Avignon. Founded in 1947 by Jean Vilar, it is the oldest extant festival in France and one of the world's greatest...
Awards
- Winner of the CésarCésar AwardThe César Award is the national film award of France, first given out in 1975. The nominations are selected by the members of the Académie des arts et techniques du cinéma....
for the Best Actor- 2007 - Tell No OneTell No OneTell No One is a 2006 French thriller film directed by Guillaume Canet and based on the novel of the same name by Harlan Coben. It was written by Guillame Canet and Philippe Lefèbvre and stars François Cluzet...
- 2007 - Tell No One
- 3 Nominations for the CésarCésar AwardThe César Award is the national film award of France, first given out in 1975. The nominations are selected by the members of the Académie des arts et techniques du cinéma....
for the Best Actor- 1995 - Les Apprentis
- 2009 - A l'OrigineIn the Beginning (2009 film)In the Beginning is a 2009 French drama film directed by Xavier Giannoli. The film competed in the main competition at the 62nd Cannes Film Festival.- Cast :* François Cluzet* Gérard Depardieu* Emmanuelle Devos* Brice Fournier - Louis* Roch Leibovici...
- 2009 - Le Dernier pour la Route
- 4 Nominations for the CésarCésar AwardThe César Award is the national film award of France, first given out in 1975. The nominations are selected by the members of the Académie des arts et techniques du cinéma....
for the Best Supporting Actor- 1983 - L'Été meurtrier
- 1988 - Force majeureForce majeureForce majeure or vis major "superior force", also known as cas fortuit or casus fortuitus "chance occurrence, unavoidable accident", is a common clause in contracts that essentially frees both parties from liability or obligation when an extraordinary event or circumstance beyond the control of...
- 1989 - Trop belle pour toiTrop belle pour toiToo Beautiful for You is a 1989 French comedy film-drama film written and directed by Bertrand Blier. It tells the story of Bernard , a well established BMW car dealer in the South of France, is cheating on his beautiful wife with his ordinary looking temporary secretary .-Cast :* Gérard...
- 2002 - L'AdversaireL'AdversaireThe Adversary is a 2002 French drama film directed by Nicole Garcia, starring Daniel Auteuil and Géraldine Pailhas.Based on the 2000 book of the same name by Emmanuel Carrère, it is inspired by the real-life story of Jean-Claude Romand...