Christian Clavier
Personal Info
Known for
Acting
Gender
Male
Birthday
1952-05-06 (73 years old)
Place of Birth
Paris, France
Christian Clavier
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.
Known For
Acting
Le Chat du rabbin
as Le rabbin
Le million
as Hippolyte
(2026)
Kaamelott: The Second Chapter (Part II)
as Le jurisconsulte
(2026)
Cocorico 2
as Frédéric Bouvier Sauvage
(2025)
The Rookie Guide
as Karol Kowalski
(2025)
Kaamelott: The Second Chapter (Part I)
as Le jurisconsulte
(2024)
Not Without My Shrink
as Olivier Béranger
(2024)
Cocorico
as Frédéric Bouvier Sauvage
(2023)
L'Âge d'or de la pub
as Self (archive footage)
(2023)
Les Vengeances de Maître Poutifard
as Robert Poutifard
(2022)
Employee of the Month
as Michel Gougnat, syndicaliste
(2021)
Serial (Bad) Weddings 3
as Claude Verneuil
(2021)
Do You Do You Saint-Tropez
as Jean Boulin
(2021)
Kaamelott: The First Chapter
as Le Jurisconsulte
(2021)
Christmas with the Tuches
as Le Père Noël
(2021)
(2019)
Serial (Bad) Weddings 2
as Claude Verneuil
(2019)
Meet the Malawas
as Julien Gosset-Grainville
(2019)
Ibiza
as Philippe
(2019)
Wide Load
as Foster
(2018)
Asterix: The Secret of the Magic Potion
as Astérix (voice)
(2018)
Spirou & Fantasio's Big Adventures
as Comte de Champignac
(2017)
A Bag of Marbles
as Docteur Rosen
(2017)
With Open Arms
as Jean-Etienne Fougerole
(2017)
If I Were a Boy
as Docteur PACE
(2017)
Finding Momo
as Alain Prioux
(2016)
The Visitors: Bastille Day
as Jacquouille la Fripouille/Antoine-Claude Jacquouillet/Edmond Jacquart
(2016)
Cédric
as Pépé
(2015)
Babysitting 2
as Alain
(2014)
Serial (Bad) Weddings
as Claude Verneuil
(2014)
Do Not Disturb
as Michel Leproux
(2014)
The Secret of Arkandias
as Agenor Arkandias
(2014)
(2013)
Le Bœuf clandestin
as monsieur Berthaud
(2013)
Les affaires sont les affaires
as Le marquis de Porcellet
(2013)
Serial Teachers
as Cutiro / Tirocu
(2011)
You Don't Choose Your Family
as César
(2011)
(2011)
La Cage aux folles
as Georges
(2009)
Le Bourgeois gentilhomme
as Monsieur Jourdain
(2009)
Bitter Victory
as Vincent Cluzel
(2008)
The Imaginary Invalid
as Argan
(2007)
The Red Inn
as Pierre Martin
(2007)
The Price to Pay
as Jean-Pierre Ménard
(2006)
French Fried Vacations 3: Friends Forever
as Jérôme Tarayre
(2006)
L'Entente cordiale
as François de La Conche
(2005)
The Antidote
as Jacques-Alain Marty « JAM »
(2005)
Les Visiteurs revisités
as Self
(2004)
The Corsican File
as Rémi François, aka Jack Palmer
(2004)
Albert est méchant
as Patrick Lechat
(2003)
Lovely Rita
as Edgar Lamarck
(2002)
Asterix & Obelix: Mission Cleopatra
as Astérix
(2002)
(2002)
(2001)
Just Visiting
as Andre
(1999)
Asterix & Obelix Take on Caesar
as Astérix
(1998)
The Visitors II: The Corridors of Time
as Jacquouille la Fripouille / Jacques-Henri Jacquard / Prosper le Purineur / Jacouillet
(1997)
Les Sœurs Soleil
as Un spectateur
(1996)
(1995)
Guardian Angels
as Père Hervé Tarain / La « mauvaise conscience »
(1994)
Dead Tired
as Christian Clavier
(1994)
Revenge of a Blonde
as Gérard Bréha
(1993)
The Visitors
as Jacquouille la Fripouille / Jacques-Henri Jacquard
(1993)
The Thirst for Gold
as Urbain Donnadieu
(1991)
L'Opération Corned Beef
as Jean-Jacques Granianski, le pigeon manipulé
(1991)
The Professional Secrets of Dr. Apfelgluck
as L'avocat
(1991)
(1989)
My Best Pals
as Jean-Michel Tuilier
(1989)
Les cigognes n'en font qu'à leur tête
as le petit chef de la DDASS
(1989)
Fantôme sur l'oreiller
as Brice Michaud
(1989)
Mieux vaut courir
as Simon
(1989)
Un fil à la patte
as Fernand de Bois d'Enghien
(1987)
The Debauched Life of Gerard Floque
as Edouard
(1986)
Twist Again in Moscow
as Iouri
(1986)
L'été 36
as Alexis
(1986)
Double mixte
as Bob Smith
(1985)
Slices of Life
as L'ami du dragueur / Charles-Henri / L'amant anti-chien
(1985)
Santa Claus Is a Stinker
as Jean-Jacques dit « Katia »
(1983)
Gramps Is in the Resistance
as Michel Taupin
(1982)
Santa Claus Is a Stinker
as Jean-Jacques dit « Katia »
(1982)
Elle voit des nains partout !
as le fourbe
(1981)
Quand tu seras débloqué... fais-moi signe !
as Antoine Bonfils
(1981)
Clara and Chics Types
as Charles
(1980)
Cocktail Molotov
as Le Beatnick
(1980)
Rat Race
as Jérôme Osendron
(1979)
French Fried Vacation 2
as Jérôme Tarayre, general practitioner
(1979)
Heroes Are Not Wet Behind the Ears
as Man in the couple with the 2CV
(1978)
French Fried Vacation
as Jérôme Tarayre, bad general practitioner
(1978)
Like a Turtle on Its Back
as un fêtard dans la voiture
(1977)
Tell Her That I Love Her
as François
(1977)
Spoiled Children
as Le journaliste télé
(1977)
You Won't Have Alsace-Lorraine
as Le conteur (voice)
(1977)
The Devil in the Box
as Renaud
(1976)
The Bottom Line
as comédien en répétition (non crédité)
(1976)
Let's Make a Dirty Movie
as Un flic
(1976)
F as in Fairbanks
as Le serveur
(1975)
The Restroom Robbery
as L'agent de sécurité homosexuel (uncredited)
(1975)
Let Joy Reign Supreme
as The servant of the inn
(1975)
Un bol d'air
as Christian
(1974)
The Suspects
as Photographer
(1974)
Bonne présentation exigée
as Le chauffagiste
(1973)
The Year 01
as A debate viewer
Crew
(2021)
Do You Do You Saint-Tropez
Co-Producer, Screenplay
(2021)
Papy fait de la résistance
Theatre Play
(2017)
With Open Arms
Producer
(2016)
The Visitors: Bastille Day
Writer, Co-Producer
(2011)
You Don't Choose Your Family
Director, Scenario Writer
(2007)
The Red Inn
Scenario Writer
(2006)
(2005)
Empire of the Wolves
Screenplay
(2004)
The Corsican File
Writer
(2003)
Lovely Rita
Producer
(2002)
Le Cœur sur la main
Producer
(2001)
Just Visiting
Screenplay
(1998)
The Visitors II: The Corridors of Time
Screenplay
(1996)
Panique au Plazza
Adaptation
(1995)
Guardian Angels
Writer
(1993)
The Visitors
Screenplay
(1993)
The Thirst for Gold
Writer
(1991)
(1989)
My Best Pals
Writer
(1986)
Twist Again in Moscow
Writer
(1985)
Santa Claus Is a Stinker
Theatre Play
(1983)
Gramps Is in the Resistance
Writer, Theatre Play
(1982)
Santa Claus Is a Stinker
Writer
(1979)
French Fried Vacation 2
Writer
(1978)
French Fried Vacation
Writer
(1975)
Un bol d'air
Writer
(1975)
(1974)
Bonne présentation exigée
Screenplay