Élie Semoun (born Élie Semhoun on 16 October 1963) is a French comedian, actor, director, writer and singer.
Élie Semoun was born in France, to a Sephardic Jewish family of Moroccan-Jewish and Algerian-Jewish descent. In 1980 at the age of 17, Semoun wrote two collections of poems and two plays. Beginning in 1988, he had regular appearances on the television series Vivement lundi! on TF1, where he played a horse mounted on rollers.
His comedy career began in 1990 with his partner Dieudonné M'bala M'bala, with whom he wrote and performed daring, skits with scathing takes generally taboo subjects such as racism and poverty, often playing up contrasts between himself and his partner in terms of origin, color, and religion.
Their first show was held at Café de la Gare in 1991. The duo acquired a certain notoriety in 1992 after several appearances on their fellow comedian Arthur's show Emission Impossible, where they were noticed for their particularly corrosive sketches. They followed this up with one success after another at Le Splendid Theater, Paris's Palais des glaces, and at Casino de Paris. Élie and Dieudonné formed one of the most popular comic duos of the 1990s.
In 1997 the duo split due to artistic and financial differences. Élie resented how Dieudonné handled their relations with the media and admitted that he was unhappy that his friend had turned towards film (and that he left to appear in the United States) and antisemitism. Dieudonné managed the financial aspects of their career, and Semoun felt their money was not divided equitably.
Breaking out on his own, Semoun continued his success with Petites Annonces d'Élie (which had been at first intended to be a show with Dieudonné) alongside his friend the actor Franck Dubosc. Once again his performance was promoted by his friend on the show Les Enfants de la télé (France) Inspired by actual classified ads recorded by them in a van, the "Petites Annonces d'Élie" (Élie's Classified Ads) are seen through the character of Cyprian, a repulsive looking man searching for a "busty blond".
Semoun went back on stage with a one-man show, Élie and Semoun. He supported Bertrand Delanoë during Paris's municipal elections of 2001 and Lionel Jospin during the presidential election of 2002. In 2003, he released an album of French songs called simply "Chansons". In early 2005, he performed in a show (co-authored with Franck Dubosc and Muriel Robin entitled Élie Semoun se prend pour qui?
Élie Semoun maintained in the years following his separation with Dieudonné a complex and strained relationship with his former partner. First strained, then reconciled, they have again grown apart during the public controversy aroused by the political stances of Dieudonné. "Some have speculated on the reunion of our duo, but I must tell you that this is clearly out of the question! It's over." In 2012, he declared that "the Dieudonné he knew and the Dieudonné of today appear to him like two completely different people, and he is unable to reconcile them in his mind". ...
Source: Article "Élie Semoun" from Wikipedia in English, licensed under CC-BY-SA 3.0.
Known For
On aurait dû aller en Grèce
Capitaine Fiama
2024
My Darling Family
2024
Ducobu 5
Gustave Latouche
2024
Meudon rire de tout - 2ème édition
Self
2023
Elie Semoun et ses monstres
Self
2023
Les Enfoirés 2023 - Enfoirés un jour, toujours
2023
Bonsoir Monsieur Devos
Self
2023
Anne Roumanoff & co s'amusent !
Self
2022
The Grand Restaurant IV
2022
Tous Inconnus
("Maitresses et patients" segment)
2022
Tous Inconnus
("Le Commissariat de Police" segment)
2022
Classico
Ernest
2022
Arnaud Ducret dans tous ses états
Self
2022
Two Much for the Job
RAF
2022
Jamel et ses amis au Marrakech du rire 2022 : 10 ans
Self
2022
Ducobu 4 President
Gustave Latouche / Ghislaine Latouche
2022
They Love Each Other... Well, Almost!
Philippe
2022
Drôles de familles
Self
2022
Les seigneurs du château
Self
2021
Camping : histoire d'un succès
Self - Actor
2021
Le grand show des humoristes - Spécial couples
Self
2021
Sixty
Self - Comedian
2019
Soirée Pyjama
Self - Guest
2019
Le meilleur des annonces d'Elie Semoun
Self
2017
La presque soirée présidentielle
Lionel Navire
2017
Jamel et ses amis au Marrakech du rire 2015
Self
2015
Le Placard
François Pignon
2015
La Folle Soirée du Palmashow 2
Self
2015
Les Enfoirés - Les Enfoirés en chœur de 1985 à aujourd'hui
2014
Asterix: The Mansions of the Gods
Cubitus (voice)
2014
A Village Almost Perfect!
Denis
2014
Départ immédiat
Self
2012
Elie Semoun : Tranches de vies
Self
2012
Porn in the Hood
Elie Semoun
2012
Ducoboo 2: Crazy Vacation
Gustave Latouche / Ghislaine Latouche
2012
Emilie Jolie
Belzébuth / The Charming Prince (voice)
2011
Carte Blanche à Anne Roumanoff
Self
2011
Ducoboo
Gustave Latouche / Ghislaine Latouche
2011
Second Chance
Philippe Markus
2011
The Storytelling Show
Éric (voice)
2010
Un divorce de chien
Julien
2010
Elie Semoun - Merki...
Self
2009
Neuilly Yo Mama!
Huissier
2009
Park Benches
Womanizer # 2
2009
Cyprien
Cyprien / Jack Price
2009
Surviving Sid
Additional Voices (voice)
2008
Les petites annonces d'Elie - L'essentiel
Various Characters
2008
Asterix at the Olympic Games
Omega
2008
Elie annonce Semoun, la suite de la suite
Various Characters
2007
Franck Dubosc - Les Pour Toi Public 2
Self
2006
Elie Semoun se prend pour qui ?
Self
2006
Riviera
Romansky
2006
Zapping Family
Vivien Kechiche
2005
Aux abois
Paul Duméry
2005
La vie de Michel Muller est plus belle que la vôtre
Elie Semoun
2005
La Nuit du rire II à l'Olympia
Self
2004
People - Jet set 2
Cyril Legall
2004
Les Zacros de la Télé
Self - Guest
2004
The Car Keys
Actor who refuses to film with Laurent
2003
Elie Semoun - Elie annonce Semoun, la suite...
Various Characters
2003
Franck Dubosc - Les Pour Toi Public
Self
2003
Elie Semoun à l'Olympia
Self
2002
Les petites annonces d'Elie - L'intégrale
Various Characters
2002
If I Was Him
Tristan
2002
Elie Semoun - Elie annonce Semoun
Various Characters
2002
Second life
Steve Michaud
2000
Old School
Frère de Ramzy - Dealer
2000
Jamel Show
Self
1999
Elie Semoun - Elie et Semoun au Palais des Glaces
Self
1999
Stringer
Filo
1999
Les Grandes Bouches
Fichier
1999
Les Parasites
Brigadier Schmitt
1999
Let There Be Light!
Dieu le magasinier
1998
Le Clone
Thomas
1998
Everything Must Disappear
Gerard Piche
1997
Les Démons de Jésus
Gérard
1997
Les Bidochon
René
1996
Elie & Dieudonné - En garde à vue
Self
1996
The Three Brothers
Brice, le bras droit de Steven
1995
Elie & Dieudonné - Une certaine idée de la France
Self
1994
Élie & Dieudonné
Self
1992
Babylone, police de proximité
My Old Man
Elie
2023
Stuck Together
Policier
2021
Fake News
The presenter of online betting
2021
I Love You Coiffure
M. Gomez (segment "La Réunion de chantier")
2020
Le grand show des humoristes
Self
2020
Ducoboo 3
Gustave Latouche / Ghislaine Latouche
2020
Peplum: la folle histoire du mariage de Cléopâtre
Pompilus
2019
Ce soir, c'est Palmashow
Self - Guest
2019
Muriel Robin, oser être soi...
Self
2018
Neuilly sa mère, sa mère !
Tapiro
2018
Jamel et ses amis au Marrakech du rire 2018
Self
2018
Looking for Teddy
Gouthard
2018
Asterix: The Secret of the Magic Potion
Cubitus (voice)
2018
La famille, ça me fait bien rire !
Self
2018
20 sketches, une vie
Self
2018
Elie Semoun - À Partager
Self
2017
M'rire Festival : Gala D'ouverture
Self
2017
Festival International du Rire de Liège 2017
Self
2017
Jamel et ses amis au Marrakech du rire 2017
Self
2017
Le Point Virgule fait l'Olympia - 10e édition
Self
2017
Les duos impossibles de Jérémy Ferrari : 3ème édition
Self
2016
Jamel et ses amis au Marrakech du rire 2016
Self
2016
Festival International du Rire de Liège 2015
Self
2015
Gad Elmaleh - 20 ans de scène !
Self
2015
Gad Elmaleh - Le Big Show
Self
2015
Serial (Bad) Weddings
Psychologist
2014
Marrakech du rire
Self
2011
Rien dans les poches
Marco Abitbol
2008
Les petites annonces la suite de la suite
Various Characters
2008
Daddy Cool
L'automobiliste énervé
2008
Muppets TV
Self - Guest (3)
2006
Les Galas Juste Pour Rire: Un monde sans femme
Chief Biker
2006
Once Upon a Time in the Oued
Le maître d'hôtel
2005
Lucky Luke and the Daltons
Doxey / Le douanier américain / Le douanier mexicain
2004
Casablanca Driver
M. X
2004
Les petites annonces d'Elie - La suite...
Various Characters
2003
Les Enfoirés 1999 - Dernière édition avant l'an 2000
1999
Charité biz'ness
Momo / Masipu
1998
Les Enfoirés 1998 - Enfoirés en cœur
1998
Qu'est-ce qu'on va faire de toi, Maman ?
Ducobu et le fantôme de Saint-Potache
Gustave Latouche
2026
The Gardener
Dr Rouma
2025
Que le meilleur gagne ! Le quiz des générations
04 - Équipe Boomers (+ 60 ans) · (2 episodes)
2024
La Grande Semaine
Self - Guest · (1 episode)
2024
Camille & images en hebdo
Self · (1 episode)
2023
L'Incroyable Embouteillage
Jean-Etienne · (2 episodes)
2023
L'Incroyable Embouteillage
Mathieu · (2 episodes)
2023
Elie Semoun, l'effroyable vérité
Self · (1 episode)
2022
That's My Jam France
Self - Guest · (1 episode)
2022
Haters
Bertrand
2021
Kevgad & Friends au Fridge Comedy
Self
2021
Kem's
Self · (1 episode)
2019
The secret song
Self · (1 episode)
2018
3615 code Arthur et Jarry
Self - Special Appearance · (2 episodes)
2018
Quotidien
Self - Guest · (1 episode)
2016
Capitaine Marleau
Lieutenant Hazarski · (1 episode)
2015
Ma pire angoisse
Le médecin · (1 episode)
2014
Web Comedy Awards
Vendeur
2014
La Parenthèse inattendue
Self · (1 episode)
2012
Platane
Elie Semoun · (1 episode)
2011
Bref
Elie Semoun · (1 episode)
2011
Palmashow - Very Bad Blagues
Napoléon · (1 episode)
2011
Made in Jamel
2010
Panique dans l'oreillette
Self · (1 episode)
2008
Moot-Moot
Les Patel et Le Représentant (voice) · (1 episode)
2007
Salut les Terriens !
Self - Guest · (3 episodes)
2006
Iznogoud
un prince
2005
Kaamelott
le Répurgateur · (3 episodes)
2005
Caméra Café
le gardien de nuit · (0 episode)
2001
Burger Quiz
Self · (1 episode)
2001
La Cape et l'épée
Ménestrel · (1 episode)
2000
Who Wants to Win Millions?
Self - Contestant · (1 episode)
2000
Love Me
The lover
2000
Vivement dimanche
Self · (6 episodes)
1998
Vivement dimanche prochain
Self · (1 episode)
1998
Les Enfoirés 1995 - Les Enfoirés à l'Opéra-Comique
1995
Zone interdite
Self · (1 episode)
1993
Que le meilleur gagne
Self - Candidate · (1 episode)
1991
Édouard et ses filles
Bertrand · (6 episodes)
1990
Fort Boyard
Self · (2 episodes)
1990
Téléthon
Self · (1 episode)
1987
Sacrée soirée
Self · (1 episode)
1987