Benoît Poelvoorde
Born
September 22, 1964 (60 years old)
Known For
Acting
Place of Birth
Namur, Belgium
Benoît Poelvoorde is a Belgian actor, comedian, and filmmaker, born on September 22, 1964, in Namur, Belgium. He first gained recognition with the cult film C'est arrivé près de chez vous (1992), a darkly comedic mockumentary where he played a serial killer with unsettling charm. This film launched his career and established his unique blend of humor and intensity.
Throughout the late 1990s and 2000s, Poelvoorde became a staple of Franco-Belgian cinema, starring in comedies like Les Randonneurs (1997), Le Vélo de Ghislain Lambert (2001), and Podium (2004), where he portrayed an obsessive Claude François impersonator—a role that earned him a César nomination. His versatility allowed him to transition into more dramatic roles, such as Entre ses mains (2005) and Coco avant Chanel (2009), where he starred alongside Audrey Tautou.
In recent years, Poelvoorde has continued to balance absurdist comedy (Au poste !, Fumer fait tousser) with auteur-driven projects (Le Tout Nouveau Testament, Saint-Amour). His ability to oscillate between slapstick humor and introspective performances makes him one of the most distinctive actors in European cinema
Known For
The Art of Being Happy
Yves Machond
2024
Beating Hearts
La Brosse
2024
A Wonderful Girl
Paul
2023
Normal
William
2023
Ce soir, c'est Palmashow
Self - Guest
2023
Smoking Causes Coughing
Lézardin
2022
The Green Shutters
Félix
2022
Adieu Paris
Benoît
2022
Panique tous courts
Steven (voice)
2017
The Price of Fame
Eddy
2015
Zebra Stripes
José
2014
A Place On Earth
Antoine Dumas
2013
The Big Bad Wolf
Philippe
2013
Tied
Le banquier
2013
Twice Upon a Time
Jean Esnart
2012
The Big Night
Benoît Bonzini, alias NOT
2012
My Worst Nightmare
Patrick Demeuleu
2011
Romantics Anonymous
Jean-René Van Den Hugde
2010
Nothing to Declare
Ruben Vandevoorde
2010
Kill Me Please
M. Demanet
2010
Mammuth
Le récupérateur de métal
2010
En chantier, monsieur Tanner !
Jean-César Astor
2010
The Other Dumas
Auguste Maquet
2010
Park Benches
Customer at the hook
2009
A Town Called Panic
Steven (voice)
2009
Coco Before Chanel
Etienne Balsan
2009
Beauties at War
Franck Chevrel
2009
Louise-Michel
Guy l'ingénieur
2008
Hikers in Saint-Tropez
Éric Jacquemart
2008
Asterix at the Olympic Games
Brutus
2008
Cowboy
Daniel Piron
2007
Two Worlds
Rémy Bassano
2007
Charlie Says
Joss
2006
Jean-Philippe
Bernard Frédéric, double of Claude François
2006
One Fine Day
François Berthier
2006
In His Hands
Laurent Kessler
2005
Akoibon
Jean-Mi
2005
Narco
Lenny Barr
2004
The Return of James Battle
Allan Chiasse
2004
Aaltra
L'amateur de moto-cross
2004
Podium
Bernard Frédéric
2004
Laughter and Punishment
Le prof de secourisme
2003
The Political Life of the Belgians
self
2002
Dead Weight
Francis Reggio
2002
Ghislain Lambert's Bicycle
Ghislain Lambert
2001
Doors of Glory
Regis Demanet
2001
The Carriers Are Waiting
Roger
1999
Hikers
Éric Jacquemart
1997
Modèle déposé
René Altrus
1995
Man Bites Dog
Ben
1992
Mama's Lover
1987
Le Palmier
La Bonne étoile
Chevalin
2025
How to Make a Killing
Major Roland Bodin
2025
Savages
Father (voice)
2024
Represent
Éric Andréï · (6 episodes)
2023
The Colors of Fire
Gustave Joubert
2022
Mad in Belgium
2022
Inexorable
Marcel Bellmer
2022
My Father's Stories
André Choulans
2021
The Summer Holidays
Steven (voice)
2021
Do You Do You Saint-Tropez
Claude Tranchant
2021
How I Became a Superhero
Monté Carlo
2020
Delete History
Le livreur Alimazone
2020
Adoration
Hinkel
2020
Panique au village : La Foire agricole
Steven (voice)
2019
Venice Calling
Bernard Chamodot
2019
White as Snow
Charles
2019
Raoul Taburin
Raoul Taburin
2019
Ce soir, c'est Palmashow
Self - Guest
2019
Father & Sons
Joseph
2019
Sink or Swim
Marcus
2018
Bonsoir !
Self - Guest · (1 episode)
2018
Keep an Eye Out
Commissaire Buron
2018
An Indian Tale
Pierre
2017
A Town Called Panic: Double Fun
Steven (voice) (archive footage)
2016
Quotidien
Self - Guest · (1 episode)
2016
The Jews
Boris
2016
Saint Amour
Bruno
2016
A Town Called Panic: Back to School Panic!
Steven (voice)
2016
Les Shadoks et la maladie mystérieuse
(voice)
2016
The Brand New Testament
God
2015
Family for Rent
Paul-André
2015
3 Hearts
Marc Beaulieu
2014
A Town Called Panic: Christmas Panic!
Steven (voice)
2013
C à vous
Self - Guest · (1 episode)
2009
Mr. Manatane's notebooks
Mr. Manatane
2003
Le Pied
Le pied (voice)
2003
A Town Called Panic
Steven (voice) · (20 episodes)
2002
A Day in the Life of French Cinema
Self
2002
Vivement dimanche
Self · (5 episodes)
1998
Le signaleur
L'organisateur
1997
Just for Laughs
L'innocent
1997
Mr. Manatane's Notebooks
Monsieur Manatane · (67 episodes)
1997
Jamais au grand jamais !
Monsieur Manatane · (26 episodes)
1996
L'Année des Guignols - Les Voleurs de patates
(voice)
1996
L'Année des Guignols - Du cul, du cul, du cul !
Multiples voix
1996
Beware of the Ravens
The director
1989
No C4 for Daniel Daniel
Daniel Daniel
1987