Jamel Debbouze facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Jamel Debbouze
Debbouze in 2016
Born	(1975-06-18) 18 June 1975 (age 50) Paris, France
Nationality	Moroccan, French
Occupation	Actor, comedian, screenwriter, film producer, director
Years active	1992–present
Spouse(s)	Mélissa Theuriau ​ (m. 2008)​
Children	2

Jamel Debbouze (born June 18, 1975) is a famous Moroccan-French actor, comedian, and filmmaker. He is well-known for his stand-up comedy shows. Jamel has also worked with popular French directors and actors.

He has starred in many successful movies. These include Amélie, Asterix & Obelix: Mission Cleopatra, and HOUBA! On the Trail of the Marsupilami. Jamel Debbouze also created the TV show Jamel Comedy Club on Canal+.

Early Life and Career Start

Jamel Debbouze was born in Paris, France. His family moved to Morocco for a year when he was very young. They returned to France in 1979 and settled in Trappes in 1983. This is where Jamel spent most of his childhood. He has five younger brothers and sisters.

When he was 14, Jamel had an accident at a train station. He lost the use of his right arm because of this.

In 1995, Jamel was discovered by people from Radio Nova. They helped him become famous. He started on Radio Nova with a film review show called Le Cinéma de Jamel. Around 1996, he brought his show to TV on Paris Première. Later, in 1998, he moved Le Cinéma de Jamel to Canal+. He also acted in the TV show H on Canal+.

Jamel's Comedy and Acting Journey

Jamel Debbouze is known for his unique style of comedy. He often uses humor to talk about his life and experiences.

Stand-Up Comedy Shows

In March 1999, Jamel started his show Jamel en Scène. In this show, he shared stories about his childhood and how he started in entertainment. He performed this show in famous Paris theaters like La Cigale and the Bataclan. He then toured all over France in 2000.

In 2002, Jamel launched a new show called 100% Debbouze. This show was very popular and played in top Parisian theaters for three years. He also toured in France, Morocco, and other countries. The DVD of this show sold over 1 million copies.

In 2006, Jamel started a new TV program called Jamel Comedy Club. This show gave new French comedians a chance to perform. With this group, Jamel performed a new show in 2007. It was very successful and even played in Canada.

Memorable Film Roles

Debbouze at the 2001 César Awards

Jamel Debbouze's first film role was in 1992 in Les Pierres Bleues du Désert. In 1999, he got a bigger role in the comedy Boys on the Beach. This movie sold over a million tickets.

In 2001, he appeared in the internationally famous movie Le fabuleux destin d'Amélie Poulain. He was nominated for an award for his role in this film. In 2002, Jamel starred in another big French movie, Asterix & Obelix: Mission Cleopatra. This film was seen by 14 million people. In 2005, he played the main character in Luc Besson's film Angel-A.

In 2006, Jamel played a very important role in the movie Indigènes (known as Days of Glory in the United States). The film tells the story of North African soldiers who fought for France in World War II. Jamel and his co-stars won an award for best male performance at the 2006 Cannes Film Festival.

Television Appearances

Jamel first appeared on TV in 1996 on a show called Nova première. Producers from Canal+ saw him and hired him to host Le cinéma de Jamel. For New Year's Eve in 2000, Jamel created a special TV show called the Jamel show. Many famous French comedians appeared on it. In 2024, Jamel Debbouze took part in the opening ceremony of the 2024 Summer Olympics in Paris. He played a torchbearer in a funny skit.

Personal Life

On March 29, 2008, Jamel Debbouze got engaged to French journalist Mélissa Theuriau. They got married on May 7, 2008. They have two children, a son named Léon (born in 2008) and a daughter named Lila (born in 2011).

Growing up in Trappes, Jamel became friends with other famous people. These include actor Omar Sy and professional footballer Nicolas Anelka.

Film and TV Work

Comedy Shows

See also

In Spanish: Jamel Debbouze para niños