Alain Chabat
{{Short description|French actor and director (born 1958)}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=October 2020}}
{{Infobox person
| name = Alain Chabat
| image = Alain_Chabat_au_Festival_Lumière_2019.jpg
| caption = Chabat in 2019
| birthname =
| birth_date = {{Birth date and age|df=yes|1958|11|24}}
| death_date =
| death_place =
| othername =
| occupation = Actor, comedian, director, screenwriter, producer, television presenter
| yearsactive = 1987–present
| spouse =
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| website =
}}
Alain Chabat ({{IPA|fr|alɛ̃ ʃaba}}; born 24 November 1958) is a French actor, comedian, director, screenwriter, producer and television presenter. Originally known for his work in the comedy group Les Nuls, including as the co-writer and lead actor of La Cité de la peur (1994), he later co-created and hosted the Burger Quiz game show, which became the most watched entertainment show in the history of French television.{{Cite web|url=https://www.sudouest.fr/2018/05/04/burger-quiz-devient-le-divertissement-le-plus-regarde-de-l-histoire-de-la-tnt-5029161-4693.php|title=Burger Quiz devient le divertissement le plus regardé de l'histoire de la TNT|last=|first=|date=4 April 2018|website=Sud Ouest|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180504105403/https://www.sudouest.fr/2018/05/04/burger-quiz-devient-le-divertissement-le-plus-regarde-de-l-histoire-de-la-tnt-5029161-4693.php |archive-date=2018-05-04 |access-date=2020-03-26}}
Chabat has also become a notable filmmaker of his own, typically both writing and starring in the movies he directed, which include cult comedy films such as Asterix & Obelix: Mission Cleopatra (2002), RRRrrrr!!! (2004) and Houba! On the Trail of the Marsupilami (2012). He appeared in French Twist (1995), The Taste of Others (2000), Happily Ever After (2004), The Science of Sleep (2006), as well as briefly in the television series Kaamelott (2005).{{Cite web|url=http://en.unifrance.org/directories/person/130204/alain-chabat|title=Alain Chabat|access-date=2014-06-28|publisher=unifrance.org}} Additionally, he voiced the title character in the French dubbing of the Shrek franchise.{{Cite news|url=https://www.premiere.fr/Cinema/News-Cinema/Alain-Chabat-Shrek-est-un-ogre-tres-tres-sensible|title=Alain Chabat : "Shrek est un ogre très très sensible"|last=|first=|date=28 October 2021|website=Première|language=fr}}
Life and career
Chabat was born in Oran, French Algeria. He is Jewish.{{Cite web | url=https://www.lexpress.fr/informations/un-nul-bourre-de-talents_647058.html | title=Un Nul bourré de talents | work=L'Express | language=fr | date=24 January 2002 | access-date=2010-02-04}}
His media career began in 1987 when he founded the comedy group "Les Nuls" (The Lame-os) with Bruno Carette, Chantal Lauby and Dominique Farrugia.{{Cite web | url=http://www.lefigaro.fr/programmes-tele/2009/08/12/03012-20090812ARTFIG00296-nulle-part-ailleurs-l-esprit-potache-du-canal-historique-.php | title="Nulle part ailleurs", l'esprit potache du "Canal" historique | work=Le Figaro| language=fr | date=13 August 2009 | access-date=2010-02-04| archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20100105112002/http://www.lefigaro.fr/programmes-tele/2009/08/12/03012-20090812ARTFIG00296-nulle-part-ailleurs-l-esprit-potache-du-canal-historique-.php| archive-date= 5 January 2010 | url-status= live}} Les Nuls' first appearance on French television, on the subscriber channel Canal Plus, was a sci-fi spoof entitled Objectif Nul (a word play with Objectif Lune, the French title of the comic album Destination Moon, one of The Adventures of Tintin). The show shares striking similarities with the British TV series Red Dwarf, although both shows were released at roughly the same time and it is unlikely one influenced the other.{{Citation needed|date=August 2010}}{{Cite web | url=http://www.devildead.com/indexfilm.php3?FilmID=1155&NamePage=red-dwarf---saison-1 | title=Red Dwarf Saison 1 | work=Devildead DVD | language=fr | year=2006 | access-date=2012-10-28}}
Both as a member of Les Nuls (in La Cité de la Peur) and in his solo efforts (including Asterix & Obelix: Mission Cleopatra, in which he both directed and acted), Chabat is one of the few French comedians who has managed to successfully emulate the heavily referential, pop-culture-based writing style of the Zucker, Abrahams and Zucker trio and adapt it to the tastes of the French audience.{{Citation needed|date=August 2010}}{{Cite web | url=http://www.allocine.fr/article/dossiers/cinema/dossier-18591489/?page=2&tab=0 | title=Bienvenue chez les ZAZ ! | work=Allociné | language=fr | date=24 September 2010 | access-date=2012-10-28 | author1=Allocine }}
Chabat also voiced the title character in the French dubs of all four Shrek films, replacing Mike Myers. He won the César Award for Best Debut in 1998 for Didier.{{Cite web | url=http://www.allocine.fr/personne/fichepersonne-17423/palmares/ | title=Allocine Alain Chabat Récompenses | work=Allociné | language=fr | date=16 May 2006 | access-date=2012-10-28}}
He co-starred in Happily Ever After (2004) and in Prête-moi ta main (2006) (which he also wrote) alongside Charlotte Gainsbourg. He played Napoleon Bonaparte in the 2009 film Night at the Museum: Battle of the Smithsonian.{{cite news | url=http://entertainment.timesonline.co.uk/tol/arts_and_entertainment/film/film_reviews/article6327720.ece?print=yes&randnum=1151003209000 | title=Night at the Museum 2 | work=The Sunday Times | date=24 May 2006| access-date=2010-02-04}}{{dead link|date=September 2024|bot=medic}}{{cbignore|bot=medic}}
In November 2022, Chabat hosted Le Late avec Alain Chabat on TF1 which ran for 10 episodes during the 2022 FIFA World Cup.{{cite news | url=https://tf1-et-vous.tf1.fr/tf1-vous-donne-rendez-vous-avec-le-late-avec-alain-chabat | title=Le Late avec Alain Chabat: votre nouveau rendez-vous sur TF1 | work=TF1 et Vous | language=fr | date=14 November 2022 | access-date=2022-11-14}}
From 2021, Chabat developed for Netflix an animated miniseries based on the Asterix franchise: Asterix and Obelix: The Big Fight, adapted from the 1964 comic book story, started streaming on April 30, 2025.{{Cite web |title=Astérix : Netflix dévoile quand sortira la série d'Alain Chabat avec Alexandre Astier |url=https://hitek.fr/actualite/asterix-et-obelix-alain-chabat-netflix_52263 |access-date=2025-03-07 |website=Hitek |date=5 February 2025 |language=fr}}
Filmography
=Film=
| class="wikitable plainrowheaders sortable"
!scope="col"|Year !scope="col"|Title !scope="col"|Role !scope="col" class="unsortable" | Notes | |
| scope="row"| 1990
| Slain Passerby | | |
|---|---|
| scope="row"| 1991
| The Professional Secrets of Dr. Apfelgluck | Gérard Martinez | | |
| scope="row"| 1992
| Pizza blob | Professor Liégeois | Short | |
| scope="row" rowspan="4"|1994
| Serge Karamazov / Youri / Jacques | Also co-writer | |
| Parano
| Pilot | | |
| 6 Days, 6 Nights
| Thomas | | |
| One Night of Hypocrisy
| Thomas | Short | |
| scope="row"| 1995
| Laurent Lafaye | Nominated - César Award for Best Actor | |
| scope="row" rowspan="2"|1996
| Courtier | | |
| Delphine 1, Yvan 0
| Pierre Krief | | |
| scope="row" rowspan="2"|1997
| Didier | Didier / Didje Hazanavicius | Also director and writer | |
| Le cousin
| Gérard Delvaux | | |
| scope="row"| 1998
| Devon / Cornwall (voice) |French dub | |
| scope="row" rowspan="3"|1999
| Trafic d'influence | Priest | | |
| Mes amis
| Etienne | | |
| La débandade
| Specialist | | |
| scope="row" rowspan="2"|2000
| Bruno Deschamps | Nominated - César Award for Best Supporting Actor | |
| Kitchendales
| Enzo's Mother | Direct-to-video | |
| scope="row" rowspan="2" |2001
| L'art (délicat) de la séduction | Master Zen | | |
| Shrek
| Shrek (voice) |French dub | |
| scope="row"| 2002
| Asterix & Obelix: Mission Cleopatra | Also director, writer and co-producer | |
| scope="row" rowspan="4"|2003
| Chouchou | Stanislas de la Tour-Maubourg | | |
| Laisse tes mains sur mes hanches
| Bernard | | |
| Mais qui a tué Pamela Rose ?
| Peter Mc Gray | | |
| The Car Keys
| Dog Seller | | |
| scope="row" rowspan="4" |2004
| RRRrrrr | !
| Pierre the Medicine Man | Also director, writer and co-producer |
| Casablanca Driver
| Doctor Brenson | | |
| Happily Ever After
| Georges | | |
| Shrek 2
| Shrek (voice) |French dub | |
| scope="row"| 2005
| Papa | Papa | | |
| scope="row" rowspan="2"|2006
| Guy | | |
| I Do
| Luis Costa | Also co-writer and producer | |
| scope="row" rowspan="2"|2007
| Garage Babes | Narrator/The Cacou | Direct-to-video | |
| Shrek the Third
| Shrek (voice) |French dub | |
| scope="row" rowspan="3"|2008
| Norbert | | |
| Me Two
| Gilles Gabriel | Also producer | |
| Un monde à nous
| English Teacher | Also producer | |
| scope="row" rowspan="3"| 2009
| Night at the Museum: Battle of the Smithsonian | Also French dub | |
| Trésor
| Jean-Pierre | | |
| Le siffleur
| Tax Auditor | | |
| scope="row"| 2010
| Shrek (voice) |French dub | |
| scope="row" rowspan="2"|2011
| Monsieur Labru | | |
| Scrat's Continental Crack-Up: Part 2
| Silas (voice) | Short film, English and French dub | |
| scope="row" rowspan="3"| 2012
| Christian Léger de la Touffe | Also producer | |
| Houba! On the Trail of the Marsupilami
| Dan Geraldo | Also director, writer and producer | |
| Ice Age: Continental Drift
| Silas (voice) |English and French dub | |
| scope="row" rowspan="3"|2013
| Turf | Nicos Fivos | Also producer | |
| Les gamins
| Gilbert | | |
| Mood Indigo
| | |
| scope="row" rowspan="2"| 2014
| Reality | Jason Tantra | | |
| Asterix: The Mansions of the Gods
| Senator Prospectus (voice) | | |
| scope="row" rowspan="2"|2017
| Valerian and the City of a Thousand Planets | Bob the Pirate | | |
| Santa & Cie
| Santa | Also director, writer and producer | |
| scope="row"| 2018
| Screams of pain (voice) | Cameo | |
| scope="row" rowspan="2"| 2019
| Play | Max's father | | |
| #Jesuislà
| Stéphane | | |
| scope="row" | 2021
| Kaamelott: The First Chapter | | |
| rowspan="3" scope="row" | 2022
|Little Nicholas: Happy As Can Be{{Cite web |last=Gallegos |first=Ricardo |date=2022-05-27 |title=Little Nicholas: Happy As Can Be Review - Cannes 2022 |url=https://butwhytho.net/2022/05/27/cannes-2022-little-nicholas-happy-as-can-be-is-a-joyful-homage/ |access-date=2022-12-07 |website=But Why Tho? A Geek Community |language=en-US}} |René Goscinny (voice) | | |
| Incredible but True
|Alain | | |
| Smoking Causes Coughing
|Chief Didier (voice) | | |
| scope="row" | 2024
|Jackie's father |
| class="wikitable"
|+Key | style="background:#FFFFCC;"| {{dagger|alt=Films that have not yet been released}} |Denotes films not yet released |
=Television=
| class="wikitable plainrowheaders sortable"
!scope="col"|Year !scope="col"|Title !scope="col"|Role !scope="col" class="unsortable" | Notes |
| scope="row" rowspan=1|1987
| Objectif: Nul | Capitain Lamar/Various characters | TV series (all episodes) |
|---|
| scope="row" rowspan=1|1988
|TVN 595 |Various characters |TV special |
| scope="row" rowspan=1|1989
| Palace | Cédric | TV series (1 Episode) |
| scope="row"| 1990
| Histoire(s) de la télévision | Roland Gilet | TV series (all episodes) |
| scope="row" rowspan=1|1990-1992
|Les Nuls, L'Emission |Himself/Various characters |TV series (56 episodes) |
| scope="row"| 1993
| Deep Throat (voice) | TV Movie |
| scope="row"| 1998
| Ivre mort pour la patrie | German General | TV Short |
| scope="row"| 2001
| La cape et l'épée | Minstrel | TV series (2 Episodes) |
| scope="row"| 2001–2002 2018–present | Himself (host) | Broadcast: Canal + (2001–2002) / TMC (2018–present) |
| scope="row"| 2006
| Avez-vous déjà vu..? | Narrator/Various voices | TV series (all episodes) |
| rowspan="2" scope="row" | 2007
| The Duke of Aquitaine | TV series (4 Episodes) |
| Shrek the Halls
|Shrek (voice) |TV special, French dub |
| scope="row"| 2008
| Rien dans les poches | Rita | Also producer |
| scope="row"| 2010
|Shrek (voice) |TV special, French dub |
| scope="row"| 2011
| Le grand restaurant II | Alain | TV movie |
| scope="row"| 2022
| Le Late avec Alain Chabat | Himself (host) | rowspan="2" | TV series |
| scope="row"|2024
|François Colignon |
| scope="row"| 2025
|Asterix and Obelix: The Big Fight |Asterix/Geriatrix/Twinpix (voice) |Netflix mini-series |
References
{{Reflist}}
External links
{{Commons category}}
- {{IMDb name|149260}}
- {{in lang|fr}} [http://www.artistikrezo.com/cinema/dossiers/alain-chabat-interview.html Interview of Alain Chabat]. Artistik Rezo. 2010-06-15.
{{César Award for Best Supporting Actor}}
{{Les Nuls}}
{{Authority control}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Chabat, Alain}}
Category:Jewish French male actors
Category:French male film actors
Category:French male voice actors
Category:French people of Algerian-Jewish descent
Category:French film directors
Category:French film producers
Category:French male screenwriters
Category:20th-century French male actors
Category:21st-century French male actors
Category:French male television actors
Category:Male actors of Algerian descent
Category:French male comedians
Category:Jewish French comedians