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Christopher Lambert
Christopher Lambert 2013.jpg
Lambert in 2013
Born
Christophe Guy Denis Lambert

(1957-03-29) March 29, 1957 (age 68)
Citizenship
  • France
  • United States
Occupation
  • Actor
  • producer
  • novelist
Years active 1979–present
Spouse(s)
(m. 1988; div. 1994)
Jaimyse Haft
(m. 1999; div. 2000)
Children 1

Christopher Lambert, born Christophe Guy Denis Lambert, is a French-American actor, producer, and writer. He was born on March 29, 1957. He began his career acting in French movies. He became famous worldwide for playing Tarzan in the film Greystoke: The Legend of Tarzan, Lord of the Apes (1984). He even won a special award called the César Award for Best Actor for his role in the movie Subway (1985).

Lambert is also well-known for playing Connor MacLeod in the fantasy adventure film Highlander (1986) and its follow-up movies. He also played Raiden in Mortal Kombat (1995), Methodius in Ghost Rider: Spirit of Vengeance (2011), and Arne Seslum in Hail, Caesar! (2016). Besides acting, he also worked as an executive producer for the movie Nine Months (1995).

Early Life

Christophe Guy Denis Lambert was born in Great Neck, New York, in the United States, on March 29, 1957. His father was a French diplomat who worked for the United Nations. Because of his father's job, Christopher moved to Switzerland when he was two years old. He grew up in Geneva and went to school there. Later, his family moved to France and settled in Paris. Christopher first started acting in a school play when he was 12 years old.

Acting Career

The director Hugh Hudson and Warner Brothers wanted an unknown actor to play Tarzan, a human raised by apes. Christopher Lambert got the role partly because he is very nearsighted. When he took off his glasses, it looked like he was always gazing into the distance, which fit the character. The movie, Greystoke: The Legend of Tarzan, Lord of the Apes, came out in 1984 and was nominated for many awards. That same year, Lambert also starred with Catherine Deneuve in Love Songs.

In 1985, he played the main character in Luc Besson's stylish film Subway. This movie was about a man being chased in the underground subways of Paris.

Becoming a Highlander

In 1986, Lambert starred in Highlander, which became one of his most famous roles. In the movie, he played Connor MacLeod, an immortal warrior who could only be killed by having his head cut off. Lambert was chosen for the role after the director, Russell Mulcahy, saw his picture in a magazine. Even though he barely spoke English, Lambert spent weeks learning the language with a special coach before filming.

Highlander became a very popular movie and was a big success around the world. The famous rock band Queen created and performed the music for the film. Lambert also appeared as Connor MacLeod in Queen's music video for their song "Princes of the Universe".

In 1987, Lambert played the main role of Salvatore Giuliano in The Sicilian. In 1988, he starred in To Kill a Priest, where he played a character based on a real priest, Jerzy Popiełuszko, who was murdered during a difficult time in Poland.

Other Notable Roles

Christopher Lambert was offered the role of Martin Riggs in the movie Lethal Weapon, but he turned it down. He was also considered for the role of James Bond in The Living Daylights, but he wasn't chosen because of his accent. He was even thought of for the main role in Pretty Woman when it was first being planned.

In 1991, Highlander II: The Quickening was released, bringing Lambert back with director Russell Mulcahy and actor Sean Connery. In 1992, he appeared in the first episode of the TV show Highlander: The Series, passing the main role to actor Adrian Paul. He also starred in the French crime movie Max et Jérémie.

In 1993, Lambert was both an executive producer and the main actor in the thriller Knight Moves. In this film, he plays a chess grandmaster who is suspected of murder. Later that year, he starred in the science fiction film Fortress. The story is set in a future where a man and his wife are sent to a super-secure prison for having a second child, which is against the rules.

In 1994, Lambert worked with actor Mario Van Peebles on two films. They starred together in the action movie Gunmen. Van Peebles also played the main bad guy in Highlander III: The Sorcerer. In this third Highlander movie, Connor MacLeod has to face a new, dangerous enemy. Lambert also starred in the action film Roadflower.

Mortal Kombat and Beyond

In 1995, Christopher Lambert played the thunder god Raiden in the movie Mortal Kombat. This film was based on the very popular video game series. The story follows warriors like Liu Kang, Johnny Cage, and Sonya Blade, who are guided by Raiden. They must fight against an evil sorcerer to save Earth. Lambert later returned to voice Raiden in the 2020 video game Mortal Kombat 11. That same year, he also starred in the action film The Hunted.

In 1996, Lambert was an executive producer and the main actor in the western film North Star. In 1997, he starred in the science fiction film Nirvana. In this movie, Lambert plays a video game designer who finds out that his game's main character has become aware and alive because of a computer virus. He also co-starred with Ice-T in the action film Mean Guns.

In 1999, he produced and starred in Resurrection, where he plays a detective investigating a murder. He also starred in the fantasy action film Beowulf. In 2000, he appeared in the fourth Highlander movie, Highlander: Endgame, which was his last Highlander sequel. That same year, he was still on the run from authorities in the sequel Fortress 2: Re-Entry.

Christopher Lambert, Isabelle Huppert, Claire Denis 66ème Festival de Venise (Mostra) 2
Lambert, Isabelle Huppert, and Claire Denis at the Venice Film Festival in 2009

In 2003, he played in Absolon, a science fiction thriller set after a big disaster. In 2009, Lambert was a main actor in Claire Denis' film White Material. Both the movie and Lambert's acting received great reviews. That year, he also acted in Cartagena, where he played a former boxer who learns to read.

Lambert Marceau avp skyfall
Lambert with Sophie Marceau in October 2012

In 2011, Lambert played the bad guy, Methodius, in the Ghost Rider sequel Ghost Rider: Spirit of Vengeance. He trained with swords for three months and shaved his head for the role. After this, he got the part of Marcel Janvier, a repeating villain in the popular police TV show NCIS: Los Angeles.

In 2016, he co-starred in Hail, Caesar!, a comedy film by the Coen brothers. It tells a fictional story about a "fixer" in Hollywood in the 1950s who tries to find a missing actor. That year, he also had a small role in a French World War II comedy film, La folle histoire de Max et Léon. He also played the main villain in the martial arts film Kickboxer: Retaliation.

In 2018, Lambert played the role of SS officer Karl Frenzel in the Russian film Sobibor. This World War II drama is about the only successful uprising in a Nazi death camp. Lambert received high praise for his amazing performance in the film.

Lambert was also part of the cast of Bel Canto, a movie based on a novel. Lambert played a French ambassador who was part of a hostage situation in Peru. He and the rest of the cast were praised for their excellent acting.

Other Ventures

Besides acting, Christopher Lambert has also written two novels. His first book, La fille porte-bonheur, came out in 2011, and his second, Le juge, was published in 2015.

He also owns a business that sells mineral water and has a food processing plant. Additionally, Lambert produces special wines called Côtes du Rhône with his business partner, Eric Beaumard. Their wine label is called Les Garrigues de Beaumard-Lambert.

Personal Life

Christopher Lambert was married to American actress Diane Lane from 1988 to 1994. They have a daughter who was born in 1993. Lambert then married American actress Jaimyse Haft in 1999, but they divorced in 2000. From 2007 to 2014, he dated French actress Sophie Marceau.

Lambert has very poor eyesight and cannot see without his glasses. He cannot wear contact lenses, so he often has to act while being almost blind. This has sometimes led to him getting injured when he performs his own stunts.

Filmography

Year Title Role Language Notes
1979 Ciao, les mecs Thug at the dance party French Credited as Christophe Lambert
1980 Telephone Bar, TheThe Telephone Bar Paul "Bébé" Franchi as Christophe Lambert
1981 Douchka TV film
Asphalte Un médecin à l'hôpital / The doctor as Christophe Lambert
Une sale affaire Mullard
Putain d'histoire d'amour Inspecteur de police
1982 Légitime violence Jockey
Cinéma 16: La Dame de cœur Marcel TV series episode
1984 Greystoke: The Legend of Tarzan, Lord of the Apes John Clayton / Tarzan English
1985 Paroles et Musique Jeremy French as Christophe Lambert
Subway Fred César Award for Best Actor as Christophe Lambert
1986 Highlander Connor MacLeod English
I Love You Michel French as Christophe Lambert
1987 Sicilian, TheThe Sicilian Salvatore Giuliano English
1988 Priceless Beauty (a.k.a. Love Dream) Menrou
To Kill a Priest Father Alek
1990 Why Me? Gus Cardinale
1991 Highlander II: The Quickening Connor MacLeod
1992 Knight Moves Peter Sanderson
Highlander: The Series Connor MacLeod TV (one episode)
Max et Jérémie Jeremie Kolachowsky French as Christophe Lambert
Fortress John Henry Brennick English
1993 Loaded Weapon 1 Man with Car Phone Deleted scene, uncredited
1994 Gunmen Dani Servigo
Roadflower Jack
Highlander III: The Sorcerer Connor MacLeod / Russell Nash
1995 Hunted, TheThe Hunted Paul Racine
Nine Months Executive producer
Mortal Kombat Raiden
1996 North Star Hudson Saanteek as Christophe Lambert
Adrenalin: Fear the Rush Lemieux
Hercule et Sherlock Vincent French as Christophe Lambert
1997 Nirvana Jimi Dini Italian
Arlette Frank Martin French as Christophe Lambert
Mean Guns Lou English
1999 Operation Splitsville Max, P.E. Teacher
Resurrection John Prudhomme also writer
Beowulf Beowulf
Gideon Gideon Oliver Dobbs
2000 Fortress 2: Re-Entry John Henry Brennick
Highlander: Endgame Connor MacLeod
2001 Aparté Short film
Druids Vercingetorix English as Christophe Lambert
Mazinkaiser Additional Voices Video game
Point Men, TheThe Point Men Tony Eckhardt English
2002 King of Bandit Jing Additional Voices TV miniseries, credited as Chris Lambert
Piano Player, TheThe Piano Player Alex Laney English
2003 Absolon Detective Norman Scot
Janis and John Léon French
2004 À ton image Thomas
2005 Dalida Richard Chanfray, Comte de Saint-Germain TV miniseries
2006 Day of Wrath Ruy de Mendoza English
Southland Tales Walter Mung
Lièvre de Vatanen, LeLe Lièvre de Vatanen Tom Vatanen French as Christophe Lambert
2007 Metamorphosis Constantine Thurzo English
Trivial Jacques French as Christophe Lambert
2008 Chauffeur, TheThe Chauffeur (Kierowca) Devereaux Polish
2009 White Material Andre Vial French as Christophe Lambert
Associés, LesLes Associés Philippe Kaminski TV film, credited as Christophe Lambert
Cartagena Leo as Christophe Lambert
2010 Geheimnis der Wale, DasDas Geheimnis der Wale Chris Cassell German TV film
2011 Ghost Rider: Spirit of Vengeance Methodius English
2013 Blood Shot The President
2012–2013 NCIS: Los Angeles Marcel Janvier / The Chameleon TV series (6 episodes)
2014 Electric Slide Roy Fortune
2015 Un plus une Samuel Hamon French
2016 Hail, Caesar! Arne Slessum English
folle histoire de Max et Léon, LaLa folle histoire de Max et Léon Captain Lassard French Also co-produced
2017 Mothers English Film
Mata Hari Gustav Kramer Russian TV miniseries
Everyone's Life Antoine de Vidas French
Call My Agent! Himself TV series (1 episode)
2018 Kickboxer: Retaliation Thomas Moore English
Sobibor Karl Frenzel Russian Russian Holocaust film
Bel Canto Simon Thibault English
2019 The Blacklist Bastien Moreau / The Corsican TV series
2020 Capitaine Marleau Thierry Bégodeau French
TBD The Creeps English

Video games

Year Title Role Language Notes
2020 Mortal Kombat 11 Raiden ("Earthrealm") English Voice and model based on his past performance as the character in the 1995 live action film

See also

Kids robot.svg In Spanish: Christopher Lambert para niños

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