French character star Jean Rochefort expressed an interest in acting early in life. Born in 1930, he trained at the Paris Conservatoire but had to halt his studies due to military service. Relocating to Paris, he developed a minor name for himself in cabaret and stage plays. He also worked with the Grenier-Hussenot company at this time and acted in TV drama. Throughout his career Rochefort would return sporadically to the theatre as both actor and director. Films took his immediate focus in the late 50s and he became an audience favorite in roguish costumers and adventure films, particularly those of director Philippe De Broca, including Cartouche, Chinese Adventures in China and The Devil by the Tail. By the 70s, Rochefort's reputation as a comedy star of sex farces and black comedies was firmly established, culminating with his classic roles in The Tall Blond Man with One Black Shoe, Conspiratia, Fantôme de la liberté, Le, Brutti sporchi e cattivi and Un éléphant ça trompe énormément. He won the Cesar Award (French equivalent of the `Oscar') for best supporting actor in The Clockmaker of St. Paul and the best actor trophy for Crabe-tambour, Le. Though he branched out internationally in later years, he earned more kudos for his work in French-made films, especially those directed by Patrice Leconte: Tandem, Mari de la coiffeuse, Le and the Oscar-nominated Ridicule. Most recently he won praise co-starring as a retired teacher of poetry opposite actor Johnny Hallyday in The Man on the Train. Despite his obvious comedic electricity, he has touched audiences as well playing dying naval captains, paraplegics, and timorous, elderly dreamers, often drawing both humor and pathos simultaneously from his characters. Not as well known by America's standards, his sunken, weary features, ever-searching eyes, ever-present moustache and prominent nose are unmistakable in the over 80 films he's graced. A lifetime dream was to play Don Quixote on film and his wish was nearly fulfilled until he took seriously ill and the project had to be indefinitely shelved after only a few days of filming. Rochefort received a special life's achievement Cesar award in 1999.


Member of jury Festival International de Cannes 2003 His other passion is horses. In 2004 he became a consultant on horseback riding for French TV. He has a son, Pierre, born 1981, from his relationship with actress Nicole Garcia. He learned English seven months before the start of the production "The Man who Killed Don Quixote".