Tchéky Karyo

Acting October 4, 1953 Istanbul, Turkey

Tchéky Karyo (French: [tʃeki kɑʁjo]; born Baruh Djaki Karyo; October 4, 1953 – October 31, 2025) was a Turkish-born French actor and musician.

Beginning his career as an actor on stage in classical and contemporary plays, he later worked as a character actor in films in the 1980s. He acted in numerous films by Hollywood and French directors, including Luc Besson. He was nominated for a César Award for Most Promising Actor for his performance in the 1982 film La Balance.

Baruh Djaki Karyo was born in 1953 in Istanbul, Turkey. His mother was Greek Jewish, and his father, a delivery man and builder, was 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, Djaki, was changed to Tchéky in a form of French transliteration. At age 13, his parents separated, and his mother ordered him to leave her home as well.

He attended the Parisian secondary school Lycée Arago. As a young man, Karyo studied drama at the Cyrano Theatre, and later became a member of the Daniel Sorano Company, playing many classical roles.

Movies

6.9

Old CineBeta

Richard

Kiss of the Dragon

2001

6.3

Old CineBeta

Tessier

The Killer

2024

6.4

Old CineBeta

Detective Netah

Crying Freeman

1995

7.1

Old CineBeta

Bob

Nikita

1990

5.2

Old CineBeta

Goddard

Operation Dumbo Drop

1995

6.0

Old CineBeta

Le Duc

Faster

2025

Tchéky Karyo

Movies

Cast & Crew

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