Benoît Poelvoorde
Known for: Acting
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
Series
Quotidien
Self - Guest
2016
Series
Vivement dimanche
Self
1998
Series
C à vous
Self - Guest
2009
Series
Beau geste
Self
2023
Series
Quelle époque !
Self - Guest
2022
Series
Super Plan
Self - Guest
2025
Film
Beating Hearts
La Brosse
2024
Film
Family for Rent
Paul-André
2015
Film
Asterix at the Olympic Games
Brutus
2008
Series
A Town Called Panic
Steven (voice)
2002
Series
Represent
Éric Andréï
2023
Film
Coco Before Chanel
Étienne Balsan
2009
Film
Sink or Swim
Marcus
2018
Film
Man Bites Dog
Ben
1992
Film
Dead Weight
Francis Reggio
2002
Film
Nothing to Declare
Ruben Vandevoorde
2010
Film
The Brand New Testament
God
2015
Film
How to Make a Killing
Major Roland Bodin
2025
Film
How I Became a Superhero
Monté Carlo
2020
Film
Keep an Eye Out
Commissioner Buron
2018
Series
Bonsoir !
Self - Guest
2018
Film
White as Snow
Charles
2019
Film
Lucky Star
Jean Chevalin /Jacob
2025
Film
Podium
Bernard Frédéric
2004
Film
Savages
Father (voice)
2024
Film
3 Hearts
Marc Beaulieu
2014
Film
Smoking Causes Coughing
Lézardin
2022
Film
Narco
Lenny Barr
2004
Film
Do You Do You Saint-Tropez
Claude Tranchant
2021
Film
The Colors of Fire
Gustave Joubert
2022
Film
Louise-Michel
Guy l'ingénieur
2008
Film
Modèle déposé
René Altrus
1995
Film
Romantics Anonymous
Jean-René Van Den Hugde
2010
Film
Just for Laughs
L'innocent
1997
Series
Mr. Manatane's Notebooks
Monsieur Manatane
1997
Film
The Jews
Boris
2016
Film
Jean-Philippe
Bernard Frédéric, double of Claude François
2006
Film
Adoration
Hinkel
2020
Film
Delete History
Le livreur Alimazone
2020
Film
Park Benches
Customer at the hook
2009
Film
Cowboy
Daniel Piron
2007
La reconnaissance
Film
My Worst Nightmare
Patrick Demeuleu
2011
Film
Two Worlds
Rémy Bassano
2007
Film
A Town Called Panic
Steven (voice)
2009
Film
Mammuth
Le récupérateur de métal
2010
Film
Le Pied
Le pied (voice)
2003
Film
Aaltra
Motocross Fan
2004
Film
Saint Amour
Bruno
2016
Film
Inexorable
Marcel Bellmer
2021
Film
A Wonderful Girl
Paul
2023
Film
Venice Calling
Bernard Chamodot
2019
Le Signaleur
L'organisateur
1997
Film
Father & Sons
Joseph
2019
Film
The Return of James Battle
Allan Chiasse
2004
Film
A Day in the Life of French Cinema
Self
2002
Démodé
5H48, Place des Martyrs
Rudy Simonaud
2027
Film
Beauties at War
Franck Chevrel
2009
Film
Adieu Paris
Benoît
2022
Film
Normal
William
2023
Film
The Big Night
Benoît Bonzini, alias NOT
2012
Film
An Indian Tale
Pierre
2017
Film
En chantier, monsieur Tanner !
Jean-César Astor
2010
Film
Laughter and Punishment
Le prof de secourisme
2003
Film
Raoul Taburin
Raoul Taburin
2019
Film
Tied
Le banquier
2013
Film
One Fine Day
François Berthier
2006
Film
The Price of Fame
Eddy
2015
Film
Hikers in Saint-Tropez
Éric Jacquemart
2008
Film
The Big Bad Wolf
Philippe
2013
Film
I Love Peru
2025
Film
Mr. Manatane's notebooks
Mr. Manatane
2003
Film
Hikers
Éric Jacquemart
1997
Film
Charlie Says
Joss
2006
Le Serpent majuscule
Henri
Film
A Town Called Panic: Double Fun
Steven (voice) (archive footage)
2016
Film
A Place on Earth
Antoine Dumas
2013
Film
In His Hands
Laurent Kessler
2005
Film
Zebra Stripes
José
2014
Film
Akoibon
Jean-Mi
2005
Film
Ce soir, c'est Palmashow
Self - Guest
2023
Film
Panique tous courts
Steven (voice)
2017
Pourquoi pas nous ?
Fausse note
Alexandre Miller
2026
Film
Doors of Glory
Regis Demanet
2001
Film
A Town Called Panic: Christmas Panic!
Steven (voice)
2013
Film
Kill Me Please
M. Demanet
2010
Film
My Father's Stories
André Choulans
2021
Film
The Green Shutters
Félix
2022
Mama's Lover
1987
Film
A Town Called Panic: The Summer Holidays
Steven (voice)
2021
Film
The Other Dumas
Auguste Maquet
2010
Film
The Art of Nothing
Yves Machond
2024
Film
Panique au village : La Foire agricole
Steven (voice)
2019
Film
Ce soir, c'est Palmashow
Self - Guest
2019
Film
The Carriers Are Waiting
Roger
1999
Film
Ghislain Lambert's Bicycle
Ghislain Lambert
2001
Film
Twice Upon a Time
Jean Esnart
2012
Film
L'Année des Guignols - Du cul, du cul, du cul !
Multiples voix
1996
Film
L'Année des Guignols - Les Voleurs de patates
(voice)
1996
Film
A Town Called Panic: Back to School Panic!
Steven (voice)
2016
Film
Les Shadoks et la maladie mystérieuse
(voice)
2016
Le Palmier
Film
Mad in Belgium
2022
Beware of the Ravens
The director
1989
The Political Life of the Belgians
self
2002
Film
No C4 for Daniel Daniel
Daniel Daniel
1987
Series
Jamais au grand jamais !
Monsieur Manatane
1996