Tchéky Karyo

Tchéky Karyo (French: [tʃeki kɑʁjo]; born Baruh Djaki Karyo; October 4, 1953 – October 31, 2025) was a Turkish-born French actor and musician. The artist began his career as a stage performer in both classical and contemporary plays, before going on to work as a character actor in films during the 1980s. He appeared in numerous films for Hollywood and French directors, including Luc Besson. He was nominated for a César Award for Best Promising Male Actor for his performance in the 1982 film La Balance. Baruh Djaki Karyo was born in Istanbul in 1953. His mother was Greek Jewish, and his father, a deliveryman and construction worker, came from a Turkish Sephardic Jewish family; both families had Spanish roots. When he was young, his family moved to Paris, France. The spelling of his name was changed from Djaki to Tchéky via French phonetic transcription. At the age of 13, his parents divorced, and his mother ordered him to leave home as well. He attended Lycée Arago middle school in Paris. As a young man, Karyo received drama training at the Cyrano Theatre Company and later became a member of the Daniel Sorano Ensemble, where he performed many classical roles.