Sébastien Thiéry

Comedian, actor and playwright Sébastien Thiery thrives in a live setting, but he has also done impressive work in both film and television. The Paris native graduated from France's National Conservatory of Dramatic Art in 1997 at the age of 27, having trained under noted theater director Adrien Philippe and acclaimed actress Catherine Hiegel. Thiery got lucky the first time out: his debut film was 1998's massively successful Luc Besson-penned action comedy "Taxi," where his performance as the put-upon driving school instructor stole the few scenes he was in. (The character was so beloved that he reappeared in the sequel "Taxi 2" in 2000.) Guest parts on French television series and small roles in TV movies followed, along with occasional film appearances; during this era, his highest-profile role was as one of the leads in the knockabout comedy "Les Insaisissables." In 2004, Thiery co-created and co-starred in the sketch comedy series "Chez Maman," in which he played a misanthrope forced to attend family meals with his officious mother (Françoise Christophe) and perky sister (Marie Parouty). The series lasted for two years. Although Thiery occasionally performed in film and television after the end of "Chez Maman," he devoted most of his time to his budding career as a playwright and stage actor. He won the Molière Award for Best Supporting Actor in 2009 for the play "Guinea Pigs," which he also wrote.