French actor Tchéky Karyo has passed away at the age of 72. Karyo, known for his performances in the film Nikita and the television series The Missing, died from cancer on Friday, as confirmed by his agent to AFP news agency. He was born in Istanbul, Turkey, on October 4, 1953, and raised in Paris.
Karyo’s acting career spanned nearly four decades, beginning with a notable role in the crime thriller La Balance (1982), which earned him a César Award nomination for Best Male Revelation. He gained recognition for his role as Bob in Luc Besson’s film Nikita (1990) and later became widely known to British audiences for portraying the detective Julien Baptiste in the TV series The Missing (2009). This character was celebrated for his methodical crime-solving skills, leading to a second series and a spin-off titled Baptiste.
He worked extensively in both film and television, often being cast in strong male roles. His film credits include major works such as Besson’s Joan of Arc (1993), the anti-war epic A Very Long Engagement (2004), Ridley Scott’s 1492: Conquest of Paradise (1992), and the James Bond film GoldenEye (1995). One of his prominent roles was as Nostradamus in the 1994 film of the same name. Karyo also appeared briefly in the film Amélie (2001) as a face in an ID photo.
Karyo is survived by his wife, actress Valérie Keruzoré, and their children. His career included a varied array of roles, with his most recent appearance in the BBC comedy thriller Boat Story just two years prior to his passing.
Source: https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cx2dd7yyly9o?at_medium=RSS&at_campaign=rss