François Cluzet (; born 21 September 1955) is a French film and theatre actor. Cluzet has collaborated with many important European and American directors, including Claude Chabrol, Bertrand Tavernier, Claire Denis, Agnieszka Holland, Robert Altman and Olivier Assayas. In 2007, he won a French César Award after starring as a doctor suspected of double homicide in the thriller Tell No One (original title Ne le dis à personne). Cluzet is best known for his role as Philippe in the film The Intouchables (2011).
Career Cluzet grew up in Paris, and made his stage debut in 1976. Three years later, he made his premiere appearance on the big screen in Cocktail Molotov with Diane Kurys. A year later, Cluzet appeared in acclaimed family drama Cheval d'orgueil directed by Claude Chabrol. The two reunited in 1982 for Les Fantômes du chapelier. In 1983, Cluzet acted in L'Été meurtrier with Jean Becker. He was nominated for a César Award for best supporting role of the year, in the same year he made a list for best new male for film Vive la sociale.
Cluzet next collaborated with a number of major name French directors, all of whom had a predilection towards dramatic works: reuniting with Kurys in 1983 for Coup de foudre, reuniting with Bertrand Tavernier (to co-star in jazz film Round Midnight 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 worked with Claude Chabrol to play 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, acting in ensemble movie Prêt-à-Porter for director Robert Altman and romance 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. Cluzet has 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 played the double of John Lennon in Janis et John (2003) and an animator of teleshopping in France Boutique (2004). In 2005, he played in Le Domaine perdu with Raoul Ruiz. The film portrayed the 1973 coup d'état in Chile.
His starring role came in 2006 as a doctor suspected of double homicide in the thriller Tell No One. For his performance, he received the 2007 César for best actor.
Cluzet's biggest role was in Intouchables (known in most English-speaking territories as The Intouchables). Based on a true story, the film chronicles the friendship between a wealthy quadraplegic (Cluzet) and a young caregiver who had recently been released from jail. In March 2012, The Intouchables became the second highest-grossing French film in France.
Personal life Cluzet married film producer Chantal Perrin in the 1980s, later divorcing. Cluzet has a son, Paul, with late actress Marie Trintignant. In 1994 he was living with Chiara Mastroianni."She's a Big Girl Now". New York Daily News. May 29, 1994. Cluzet was in a long-term relationship with actress Valérie Bonneton, the mother of two of his children. In 2011, he married Narjiss Slaoui-Falcoz, whom he had met six months before filming The Intouchables.
Filmography Year Title Role Director Notes1980Cocktail MolotovBrunoDiane KurysThe Horse of PridePierre-Alain, the fatherClaude Chabrol1982The Hatter's Ghostthe journalist Claude Chabrol1983Entre Nousa soldierDiane KurysOne Deadly SummerMickeyJean BeckerJulien Fontanes, magistratBob MourèzeJean-Pierre Decourt1985Les enragésMarc, dit 'Teuf-Teuf'Pierre-William GlennElsa, ElsaFerdinand, as adultDidier Haudepin1986États d'âmePierrotJacques FanstenRound MidnightFrançois BorlerBertrand TavernierRue du départPaul TrianaTony Gatlif1987Association of WrongdoersThierryClaude Zidi1988Jaune revolverJean-Claude WielzkyOlivier LangloisChocolatMarcClaire DenisStory of WomenPaulClaude Chabrol1989LouisClaude ZidiUn tour de manègeAlPierre PradinasForce majeureDanielPierre JolivetLa Révolution françaiseCamille DesmoulinsRobert EnricoToo Beautiful for YouPascal ChevassuBertrand Blier1992Olivier, OlivierSerge DuvalAgnieszka HollandSexes faibles!Sébastien SébastianSerge MeynardÀ demainGillesDidier Martiny1993L'Instinct de l'ange Ernest DevrinesRichard Dembo1994L'EnferPaul PrieurClaude ChabrolThe Wind from Wyoming (Le Vent du Wyoming) Chester CelineAndré ForcierPrêt-à-porterNina's assistantRobert Altman1995French KissBobLawrence KasdanThe Horseman on the Roofthe doctorJean-Paul RappeneauLes ApprentisAntoinePierre Salvadori1996Enfants de salaudSandroTonie Marshall1997Le déménagementClaudeOlivier DoranLe silence de RakRakChristophe LoizillonThe SwindleMaurice BiaginiClaude Chabrol1998La voie est libreJulesStéphane ClavierLate August, Early SeptemberAdrienOlivier AssayasDolce far nienteStendhalNae CaranfilL'examen de minuitAntoineDanièle Dubroux2002The AdversaryLucNicole Garcia2003Quand je vois le soleilPierreJacques CortalMais qui a tué Pamela Rose?GibsonEric LartigauJanis et JohnWalter KingkateSamuel BenchetritFrance BoutiqueOlivier MestralTonie Marshall2004The HookBen CastelanoThomas Vincent2005Le domaine perduAntoineRaoul RuizLa cloche a sonnéJean Bruno Herbulot2006Four StarsReneChristian VincentTell No OneAlexandre BeckGuillaume Canet2007Ma place au soleilPaulEric de MontalierLa vérité ou presqueMarcSam KarmannGame of FourLionelBruno Dega2008ParisPhilippe VerneuilCédric KlapischRivalsGabrielJacques Maillot2009In the BeginningPhilippe MillerXavier GiannoliOne for the RoadHervé ChabalierPhilippe Godeau2010Blanc comme neigeMaximeAnne FontaineLittle White LiesMax CantaraGuillaume Canet2011Mon père est femme de ménageMichelSaphia AzzeddineThe Art of LoveAchilleEmmanuel MouretA Monster in ParisVictor MaynottBibo BergeronVoice roleThe IntouchablesPhilippeÉric Toledano and Olivier Nakache2012Do Not DisturbJeffLisa Azuelos201311.6Toni MusulinPhilippe GodeauTurning TideYann KermadecChristophe Offenstein2014Quantum LovePierreLisa Azuelos2015One Wild MomentAntoineJean-François Richet2016IrreplaceableJean-Pierre WernerThomas LiltiLa Mécanique de l'ombreDuvalThomas KruithofThe Other MeMarcel de ChaffeSotiris Tsafoulias2017L'école buissonnièreTotocheNicolas Vanier2018Naked NormandyGeorges BalbuzardPhilippe Le GuayLe collier rougeLantierJean Becker2019Nous finirons ensembleMaxGuillaume Canet2020Rose IslandJean Baptiste TomaSydney Sibilia2021The Man in the BasementJacques FonzicPhilippe Le Guay2022MasqueradeSimonNicolas BedosKitchen Brigade, or La BrigadeLorenzo CardiLouis-Julien Petit2023A Real Job (Un métier sérieux)Pierre EtchevegarayThomas Lilti2024Mort d'un acteurHimselfAmbroise RateauShort film; Voice role2025Prime Rush (Fils de)Lionel PerrinCarlos Abascal Peiro2026Good Vibes Only (Pour le plaisir)ThomasReem Kherici
Theatre 1992: Belgicae by Anita Van Belle, directed by Pierre Pradinas, at the Festival d'Avignon
Awards 1984 : Nominated for César Award for Most Promising Actor for Vive la sociale 1984 : Nominated for César Award for Best Supporting Actor for One Deadly Summer 1984 : Prix Jean Gabin 1990 : Nominated for César Award for Best Supporting Actor for Force majeure 1996 : Nominated for César Award for Best Actor for Les Apprentis 2003 : Nominated for César Award for Best Supporting Actor for The Adversary 2007 : Nominated for César Award for Best Supporting Actor for Quatre étoiles 2007 : César Award for Best Actor for Tell No One 2007 : Nominated for Lumière Award for Best Actor for Tell No One 2007 : Étoile d'or du premier rôle masculin for Tell No One 2007 : Globes de Cristal Award for Best Actor for Tell No One 2010 : Nominated for César Award for Best Actor for One for the Road 2010 : Nominated for César Award for Best Actor for In the Beginning 2010 : Nominated for Lumière Award for Best Actor for In the Beginning 2010 : Nominated for Globes de Cristal Award for Best Actor for In the Beginning 2010 : Étoile d'Or for In the Beginning 2011 : Nominated for Globes de Cristal Award for Best Actor for Little White Lies 2012 : Nominated for César Award for Best Actor for The Intouchables 2012 : Nominated for Globes de Cristal Award for Best Actor for The Intouchables 2017 : Nominated for César Award for Best Actor for Irreplaceable
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