Benoît Poelvoorde
Acting • Born 1964-09-22
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
106 credits
Smoking Causes Coughing
Movie • 2022
Lézardin
Asterix at the Olympic Games
Movie • 2008
Brutus
Man Bites Dog
Movie • 1992
Ben
Narco
Movie • 2004
Lenny Barr
Cowboy
Movie • 2007
Daniel Piron
Coco Before Chanel
Movie • 2009
Étienne Balsan
Louise-Michel
Movie • 2008
Guy l'ingénieur
Adieu Paris
Movie • 2022
Benoît
The Carriers Are Waiting
Movie • 1999
Roger
Aaltra
Movie • 2004
Motocross Fan
The Return of James Battle
Movie • 2004
Allan Chiasse
The Green Shutters
Movie • 2022
Félix
One Fine Day
Movie • 2006
François Berthier
Jean-Philippe
Movie • 2006
Bernard Frédéric, double of Claude François
Ghislain Lambert's Bicycle
Movie • 2001
Ghislain Lambert
Hikers
Movie • 1997
Éric Jacquemart
Hikers in Saint-Tropez
Movie • 2008
Éric Jacquemart
A Town Called Panic
Movie • 2009
Steven (voice)
Ce soir, c'est Palmashow
Movie • 2023
Self - Guest
Beauties at War
Movie • 2009
Franck Chevrel
Podium
Movie • 2004
Bernard Frédéric
Two Worlds
Movie • 2007
Rémy Bassano
The Other Dumas
Movie • 2010
Auguste Maquet
Akoibon
Movie • 2005
Jean-Mi
In His Hands
Movie • 2005
Laurent Kessler
Beating Hearts
Movie • 2024
La Brosse
Mammuth
Movie • 2010
Le récupérateur de métal
Park Benches
Movie • 2009
Customer at the hook
Kill Me Please
Movie • 2010
M. Demanet
Doors of Glory
Movie • 2001
Regis Demanet
Dead Weight
Movie • 2002
Francis Reggio
Laughter and Punishment
Movie • 2003
Le prof de secourisme
En chantier, monsieur Tanner !
Movie • 2010
Jean-César Astor
Charlie Says
Movie • 2006
Joss
The Political Life of the Belgians
Movie • 2002
self
Romantics Anonymous
Movie • 2010
Jean-René Van Den Hugde
The Big Night
Movie • 2012
Benoît Bonzini, alias NOT
Nothing to Declare
Movie • 2010
Ruben Vandevoorde
Panique tous courts
Movie • 2017
Steven (voice)
My Worst Nightmare
Movie • 2011
Patrick Demeuleu
Mama's Lover
Movie • 1987
Modèle déposé
Movie • 1995
René Altrus
Tied
Movie • 2013
Le banquier
A Wonderful Girl
Movie • 2023
Paul
Twice Upon a Time
Movie • 2012
Jean Esnart
Normal
Movie • 2023
William
A Place on Earth
Movie • 2013
Antoine Dumas
The Art of Being Happy
Movie • 2024
Yves Machond
The Big Bad Wolf
Movie • 2013
Philippe
Zebra Stripes
Movie • 2014
José
The Price of Fame
Movie • 2015
Eddy
Le Palmier
Movie
3 Hearts
Movie • 2014
Marc Beaulieu
Mad in Belgium
Movie • 2022
No C4 for Daniel Daniel
Movie • 1987
Daniel Daniel
Beware of the Ravens
Movie • 1989
The director
The Brand New Testament
Movie • 2015
God
How to Make a Killing
Movie • 2025
Major Roland Bodin
Family for Rent
Movie • 2015
Paul-André
Lucky Star
Movie • 2025
Jean Chevalin /Jacob
Saint Amour
Movie • 2016
Bruno
Savages
Movie • 2024
Father (voice)
The Jews
Movie • 2016
Boris
A Town Called Panic: Christmas Panic!
Movie • 2013
Steven (voice)
Mr. Manatane's notebooks
Movie • 2003
Mr. Manatane
An Indian Tale
Movie • 2017
Pierre
Le Signaleur
Movie • 1997
L'organisateur
Sink or Swim
Movie • 2018
Marcus
Adoration
Movie • 2020
Hinkel
Les Shadoks et la maladie mystérieuse
Movie • 2016
(voice)
Keep an Eye Out
Movie • 2018
Commissioner Buron
White as Snow
Movie • 2019
Charles
Raoul Taburin
Movie • 2019
Raoul Taburin
Father & Sons
Movie • 2019
Joseph
A Town Called Panic: Back to School Panic!
Movie • 2016
Steven (voice)
Venice Calling
Movie • 2019
Bernard Chamodot
Ce soir, c'est Palmashow
Movie • 2019
Self - Guest
How I Became a Superhero
Movie • 2020
Monté Carlo
Delete History
Movie • 2020
Le livreur Alimazone
Panique au village : La Foire agricole
Movie • 2019
Steven (voice)
L'Année des Guignols - Du cul, du cul, du cul !
Movie • 1996
Multiples voix
My Father's Stories
Movie • 2021
André Choulans
A Town Called Panic: Double Fun
Movie • 2016
Steven (voice) (archive footage)
Just for Laughs
Movie • 1997
L'innocent
Inexorable
Movie • 2022
Marcel Bellmer
L'Année des Guignols - Les Voleurs de patates
Movie • 1996
(voice)
Do You Do You Saint-Tropez
Movie • 2021
Claude Tranchant
The Colors of Fire
Movie • 2022
Gustave Joubert
A Town Called Panic: The Summer Holidays
Movie • 2021
Steven (voice)
Le Pied
Movie • 2003
Le pied (voice)
A Day in the Life of French Cinema
Movie • 2002
Self
Démodé
Movie
I Love Peru
Movie • 2025
Self
Fausse note
Movie • 2026
Alexandre Miller
Pourquoi pas nous ?
Movie
Mr. Manatane's Notebooks
TV • 1997
Monsieur Manatane
Jamais au grand jamais !
TV • 1996
Monsieur Manatane
Represent
TV • 2023
Éric Andréï
Vivement dimanche
TV • 1998
Self
A Town Called Panic
TV • 2002
Steven (voice)
Quotidien
TV • 2016
Self - Guest
C à vous
TV • 2009
Self - Guest
Bonsoir !
TV • 2018
Self - Guest
Beau geste
TV • 2023
Self
Super Plan
TV • 2025
Self - Guest
Quelle époque !
TV • 2022
Self - Guest