Best known for his countless turns as a police officer--his commanding physique fits the role of a defender of justice--François Levantal began his acting career as a student in one of the most highly regarded acting schools in Paris, Cours Simon. Many successful French actors have completed the same program, and Levantal met two of his closest friends there: international star Vincent Cassel and renowned director Mathieu Kassovitz. His first screen role came in the 1986 comedy "Conseil de famille," starring iconic French singer-actor Johnny Hallyday. One of France's most notable directors, Bertrand Tavernier, took notice of Levantal's distinct appearance and cast him in the soon-to-be-typical role of the police inspector in films like 1992's "L.627" and 1995's "L'Appât." Having already established himself as a competent dramatic actor, he tried his hand at comedy in the late 1990s in films like Patrick Timsit's "Quasiimodo de'l Paris," in which he traded his traditional role as "the inspector" for a chance to play "the psychopath." A small part in the 2000 crime thriller "The Crimson Rivers" gave Levantal the opportunity to re-team with his old friends Kassovitz and Cassel, and work with another international celebrity: Jean Reno. Despite often portraying side roles and bit parts, Levantal has become a widely recognized character actor in French cinema.