Here are 15 famous actors from France were born in 1961:
Cédric Klapisch (September 4, 1961 Neuilly-sur-Seine-) otherwise known as Cedric Klapisch is a French film director, actor, screenwriter, film producer and television director. His child is called Emile Klapisch.
Klapisch has directed several acclaimed French films including "L'Auberge Espagnole," "Russian Dolls," and "Paris." He frequently collaborates with actress Audrey Tautou, who has appeared in several of his films including "Pot Luck" and "Chinese Puzzle." In addition to his work in film, Klapisch has also directed several episodes of popular French television series such as "Dix pour cent" and "Call My Agent!" He has been awarded multiple awards for his contributions to French cinema, including the César Award for Best Original Screenplay for "Un Air de Famille" in 1997.
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Manu Chao (June 21, 1961 Paris-) otherwise known as José-Manuel Thomas Arthur Chao, Oscar Tramor, José-Manuel Thomas Arthur Chao Ortega or José Manuel Arturo Tomás Chao is a French singer, musician, record producer, film score composer, singer-songwriter, guitarist and actor.
He grew up in Paris and started his musical career in the early 1980s as a member of the band Mano Negra. After the band broke up in 1995, Chao began his solo career, releasing his debut album "Clandestino" in 1998. The album became a commercial success and established Chao as a leading figure in the alternative Latin music scene.
His music blends various genres such as reggae, ska, punk rock, and Latin American music, and his lyrics often address political and social issues. Chao has been praised for his multicultural approach and his ability to blend different styles and languages in his music.
In addition to his music career, Chao has also been involved in various humanitarian and environmental causes. He has supported organizations such as Greenpeace, Doctors Without Borders, and the Zapatista movement.
Chao has released several successful albums over the years, including "Proxima Estacion: Esperanza" (2001), "La Radiolina" (2007), and "Clandestino/Bloody Border" (2018). He continues to tour and perform around the world, spreading his message of multicultural unity through his music.
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Alexandre Desplat (August 23, 1961 Paris-) a.k.a. Alexadre Desplat, Alexandre Michel Gérard Desplat, Alexandre Desplats or Alexandre is a French film score composer, orchestrator, conductor, composer and actor. He has two children, Ninon Desplat and Antonia Desplat.
Desplat has composed the scores for over 170 films, including The Grand Budapest Hotel, The King's Speech, The Queen, Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 1 and 2, The Curious Case of Benjamin Button, Argo, and The Shape of Water, for which he won his second Academy Award for Best Original Score in 2018. He has also received numerous other accolades, including three BAFTA Awards, two Golden Globe Awards, and a Grammy Award. In addition to his film work, Desplat has also composed music for theatre productions, including plays by Peter Brook and Jean-Pierre Vincent, and for classical and contemporary music concerts.
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Tony D'Amario (May 28, 1961-June 29, 2005 Paris) was a French actor.
He was born in Boulogne-Billancourt, France to Italian parents. D'Amario started his career as a dancer and performed on stage in various musicals. He then transitioned into acting and appeared in several French films and TV shows. His notable roles include playing Marco in Olivier Assayas' film "Une nouvelle vie" and Bruno in the TV series "Sous le soleil". D'Amario was also recognized for his work as a voice actor, lending his voice to French dubs of Hollywood movies including "Brokeback Mountain" and "Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull". He passed away at the age of 44 due to heart disease.
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Samy Naceri (July 2, 1961 4th arrondissement-) also known as Saïd Naceri or Sami Naceri is a French actor. He has one child, Julian Naceri.
Samy Naceri rose to international fame for his role in the 1995 French film "La Haine". He also starred in the popular "Taxi" film series as the lead character, taxi driver Daniel Morales. Naceri has won several awards for his acting, including the César Award for Best Supporting Actor for his role in "Days of Glory". However, he has also been in the news for his run-ins with the law, including multiple arrests for drug possession and violence. Despite this, Naceri has continued to act in films and on stage in France.
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Stéphane Sanseverino (October 9, 1961 Paris-) otherwise known as Sanseverino or San Severino is a French singer, musician, songwriter, actor and voice actor.
He started his music career in the 1990s with the band Les Voleurs de Poules. Sanseverino gained widespread recognition with his solo album "Le Tango des Gens" in 2001, which was a fusion of traditional French music, jazz and world music. He has released several albums after that, including "Exactement" and "Les Faux Talbins", which have also received critical acclaim.
Apart from music, Sanseverino has also worked as an actor in French films, television and theater. He has also lent his voice for French dubbing of foreign films, such as Aladdin and The Lion King. Sanseverino is known for his unique style, which combines his love for old-school French music with modern influences, creating a new sound that remains true to his roots.
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Florent Pagny (November 6, 1961 Chalon-sur-Saône-) a.k.a. Pagny, Florent is a French musician, actor, singer and songwriter. His children are called Inca Pagny and Ael Pagny.
Florent Pagny began his music career in the 80s with his first album "Merci" receiving critical acclaim. He has since released over 20 albums and sold over 6 million copies worldwide. Some of his most famous songs include "N'importe quoi" and "Savoir Aimer".
Aside from music, Pagny has also dabbled in acting, starring in the French film "Le Colonel Chabert" in 1994. He has also been a judge on the French version of "The Voice" since 2013.
Pagny is known for his philanthropic work, particularly in his support of children's charities. He has been involved in organizations such as AFA, which helps those affected by cystic fibrosis, and Les Restos du Cœur, a French charity that provides food to those in need.
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Tonino Benacquista (September 1, 1961 Choisy-le-Roi-) is a French actor, writer and screenwriter.
He was born to Italian parents and spent much of his childhood in Italy before returning to France. Benacquista has written and co-written several screenplays and films, including the award-winning crime thriller "Sur mes lèvres" (Read My Lips) and the comedy "The Great Role" (Le Grand Rôle). He is also known for his novels, which often explore the lives of ordinary people in unusual circumstances. His novel "Fauves" won the Grand Prix de Littérature Policière in 1995. In addition to his literary work, Benacquista has acted in several French television shows and films. He currently resides in Paris with his wife and children.
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Denis Lavant (June 17, 1961 Neuilly-sur-Seine-) is a French actor.
He is best known for his work in avant-garde cinema, and has appeared in numerous films by French director Leos Carax, including "Boy Meets Girl", "The Lovers on the Bridge", and "Holy Motors". Lavant's commanding presence on screen and his ability to embody a wide range of characters have made him a favorite among many international filmmakers, and he has also worked with directors such as Jean-Luc Godard, Claire Denis, and Harmony Korine. Beyond film, Lavant has also worked extensively in theater, and has received critical acclaim for his performances in a number of productions.
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Wadeck Stanczak (November 30, 1961 Arpajon-) a.k.a. Wadek Jean André Stanczak, Wadeck Stanzak, Władysław Stańczak or Wadeck Stanczack is a French actor.
Born to Polish immigrant parents, Stanczak grew up in the Parisian suburb of Montmorency. He began his acting career in the mid-1980s, appearing in a number of French television shows and films. He is best known for his role as Inspector Venturi on the hit French crime drama "Julie Lescaut," which he appeared on for several seasons.
Stanczak has also had success on the international stage, with notable roles in films such as "Mission: Impossible" and "The Bourne Identity." In addition to his acting work, he has also directed and produced several short films.
Stanczak is fluent in French, English, and Polish, and is known for his dedication to charity work. He has been a UNICEF ambassador since 2007 and is also involved with several other humanitarian organizations.
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Philippe Decouflé (October 22, 1961 Neuilly-sur-Seine-) is a French writer, theatre director, choreographer, film director, actor, screenwriter, dancer and mime artist.
He is best known for his innovative and eclectic performances that blend different art forms and genres, including dance, theatre, circus, film, and visual arts. Decouflé began his career as a mime artist in the late 1970s before forming his own dance company, DCA, in 1983. He gained international recognition in the 1990s for his work on the opening and closing ceremonies of the 1992 Winter Olympics in Albertville, France, and the 1998 World Cup in Paris, as well as for his collaborations with pop stars such as Madonna and Björk. His signature style is characterized by his use of playful and poetic imagery, surreal elements, and rapid-fire choreography that challenges the boundaries of traditional dance and theatre. In addition to his work in the performing arts, Decouflé has directed several films, including the critically acclaimed comedy "Amazone" (2000).
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Matthew Dickens (October 19, 1961 Nancy-January 8, 2013) also known as Matthew Dicken was a French actor, writer, film producer and film director.
He was best known for his work in French cinema, having appeared in over 50 films and television series. Some of his notable roles include his performance in the film "La Haine" (1995) and the TV series "Un Village Français" (2009-2017).
In addition to his work as an actor, Dickens was also known for his writing, having written and directed several films including "Faubourg 36" (2008) and "On the Other Side of the Tracks" (2012).
He started his career in the 1980s, appearing in small roles in French and international films, before gradually rising to fame in the 1990s. Dickens was highly praised for his dramatic range and was considered one of the finest actors of his generation.
He passed away in January 2013 at the age of 51 due to a heart attack. He is survived by his wife and two children.
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Didier Bienaimé (June 9, 1961 Troyes-August 7, 2004 Laguépie) also known as Didier Jean-Michel Serge Bienaimé was a French actor. He had three children, Maïlis Bienaimé, Mathis Bienaimé and Mégane Bienaimé.
Bienaimé began his acting career in the 1980s, starring in French films such as "La Passante du Sans-Souci" and "L'été en pente douce." He later expanded his work to include television, appearing in popular French shows like "Julie Lescaut" and "Maigret."
Despite being a well-known actor in France, Bienaimé never achieved the same level of international recognition as some of his contemporaries. He continued to work in the entertainment industry up until his untimely death in 2004 at the age of 43, while on vacation in the south of France with his family.
Outside of acting, Bienaimé was known for his love of nature and the outdoors, often spending his free time hiking and exploring the French countryside. His legacy as an actor and family man continues to be celebrated by his fans and loved ones.
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Frédéric Taddeï (January 5, 1961 Paris-) is a French presenter, journalist, actor, television director and screenwriter. He has one child, Diego Taddeï.
Frédéric Taddeï began his career as a journalist, working for various publications such as Actuel, Nova Magazine and Le Matin de Paris. He later transitioned into broadcasting and became the host of several popular French television shows. Taddeï is also an accomplished actor, having appeared in several films and television series. In addition to his work in journalism and acting, Taddeï has directed and written several screenplays for television and film. He is known for his frank and outspoken style, especially when discussing controversial topics. Taddeï has won numerous awards for his work in broadcasting and journalism, including the prestigious Prix Albert Londres in 1993.
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Nagui (November 14, 1961 Alexandria-) also known as Nagui Fam is a French presenter, television producer and actor. He has three children, Nina Fam, Roxane Fam and Annabel Fam.
Nagui was born in Alexandria, Egypt to Egyptian parents of Coptic descent. His family immigrated to France when he was just four years old. In his early career, Nagui worked as a radio host on various radio stations including Radio France, Radio Nova, and Europe 1. He then went on to host and produce television shows such as "N'oubliez pas votre brosse à dents" and "Taratata."
In addition to his television work, Nagui has also acted in a few films and TV shows. He made his acting debut in the French film "Shoe at Your Foot" in 1990 and later appeared in the TV series "Les Cordier, juge et flic" and "Le Lycée."
Nagui is a well-known philanthropist and is involved in various charitable causes. He is a supporter of the charity organization Les Restos du Cœur, which provides food and assistance to the homeless and people in need.
Throughout his career, Nagui has received numerous awards and nominations for his work in the entertainment industry. He is considered one of the most successful and influential presenters in French television history.
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