Christopher Lambert facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Christopher Lambert
Lambert in 2013
Born	Christophe Guy Denis Lambert (1957-03-29) March 29, 1957 (age 68) Manhasset, New York, U.S.
Citizenship	France United States
Occupation	Actor producer novelist
Years active	1979–present
Spouse(s)	Diane Lane ​ ​ (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.

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 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

Video games

See also

In Spanish: Christopher Lambert para niños