Benoît Poelvoorde

Born: 1964-09-22 in Namur, Belgium

Known For: Acting

Biography

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

Filmography

2027

5H48, Place des Martyrs as Rudy Simonaud

2026

Le Trésor
Fausse note as Alexandre Miller

2025

Super Plan as Self - Guest
How to Make a Killing as Major Roland Bodin
Lucky Star as Jean Chevalin /Jacob
I Love Peru

2024

Beating Hearts as La Brosse
Savages as Father (voice)
The Art of Nothing as Yves Machond

2023

Beau geste as Self
Represent as Éric Andréï
Ce soir, c'est Palmashow as Self - Guest
A Wonderful Girl as Paul
Normal as William

2022

Quelle époque ! as Self - Guest
The Colors of Fire as Gustave Joubert
Smoking Causes Coughing as Lézardin
Adieu Paris as Benoît
The Green Shutters as Félix
Mad in Belgium

2021

Do You Do You Saint-Tropez as Claude Tranchant
Inexorable as Marcel Bellmer
A Town Called Panic: The Summer Holidays as Steven (voice)
My Father's Stories as André Choulans

2020

How I Became a Superhero as Monté Carlo
Adoration as Hinkel
Delete History as Le livreur Alimazone

2019

White as Snow as Charles
Venice Calling as Bernard Chamodot
Ce soir, c'est Palmashow as Self - Guest
Raoul Taburin as Raoul Taburin
Panique au village : La Foire agricole as Steven (voice)
Father & Sons as Joseph

2018

Sink or Swim as Marcus
Bonsoir ! as Self - Guest
Keep an Eye Out as Commissioner Buron

2017

An Indian Tale as Pierre
Panique tous courts as Steven (voice)

2016

Quotidien as Self - Guest
The Jews as Boris
Saint Amour as Bruno
A Town Called Panic: Double Fun as Steven (voice) (archive footage)
A Town Called Panic: Back to School Panic! as Steven (voice)
Les Shadoks et la maladie mystérieuse as (voice)

2015

The Brand New Testament as God
Family for Rent as Paul-André
The Price of Fame as Eddy

2014

3 Hearts as Marc Beaulieu
Zebra Stripes as José

2013

The Big Bad Wolf as Philippe
Tied as Le banquier
A Place on Earth as Antoine Dumas
A Town Called Panic: Christmas Panic! as Steven (voice)

2012

Twice Upon a Time as Jean Esnart
The Big Night as Benoît Bonzini, alias NOT

2011

My Worst Nightmare as Patrick Demeuleu

2010

Nothing to Declare as Ruben Vandevoorde
Romantics Anonymous as Jean-René Van Den Hugde
En chantier, monsieur Tanner ! as Jean-César Astor
Mammuth as Le récupérateur de métal
Kill Me Please as M. Demanet
The Other Dumas as Auguste Maquet

2009

C à vous as Self - Guest
Coco Before Chanel as Étienne Balsan
Park Benches as Customer at the hook
Beauties at War as Franck Chevrel
A Town Called Panic as Steven (voice)

2008

Asterix at the Olympic Games as Brutus
Hikers in Saint-Tropez as Éric Jacquemart
Louise-Michel as Guy l'ingénieur

2007

Two Worlds as Rémy Bassano
Cowboy as Daniel Piron

2006

Jean-Philippe as Bernard Frédéric, double of Claude François
Charlie Says as Joss
One Fine Day as François Berthier

2005

In His Hands as Laurent Kessler
Akoibon as Jean-Mi

2004

Narco as Lenny Barr
The Return of James Battle as Allan Chiasse
Podium as Bernard Frédéric
Aaltra as Motocross Fan

2003

Mr. Manatane's notebooks as Mr. Manatane
Le Pied as Le pied (voice)
Laughter and Punishment as Le prof de secourisme

2002

Dead Weight as Francis Reggio
A Town Called Panic as Steven (voice)
A Day in the Life of French Cinema as Self
The Political Life of the Belgians as self

2001

Ghislain Lambert's Bicycle as Ghislain Lambert
Doors of Glory as Regis Demanet

1999

The Carriers Are Waiting as Roger

1998

Vivement dimanche as Self

1997

Mr. Manatane's Notebooks as Monsieur Manatane
Just for Laughs as L'innocent
Le Signaleur as L'organisateur
Hikers as Éric Jacquemart

1996

L'Année des Guignols - Du cul, du cul, du cul ! as Multiples voix
L'Année des Guignols - Les Voleurs de patates as (voice)
Jamais au grand jamais ! as Monsieur Manatane

1995

Modèle déposé as René Altrus