Gad Elmaleh

Actor and comedian Gad Elmaleh headed to France via Canada from his native Morocco to launch his career. Starting off performing one-man shows, Elmaleh became an international star who was able to crossover to American films. His talents caught the attention of Woody Allen, Steven Spielberg, and Jerry Seinfeld, among others.

Gad Elmaleh was born in Casablanca, Morocco, on April 19, 1971. Elmaleh's father was also a performer, specializing in mime. Elmaleh left Casablanca for Montreal in 1988, then moved to Paris in 1992, where he studied at a famed drama school called The Cours Florent.

Elmaleh then put together a one-man show in 1996, "Décalages," about his experiences in Montreal and Paris. He then put together another one-man show in 1999, "La Vie Normale." From performing his own creations, Elmaleh branched into big screen work and television.

After appearing on the French comedy series "Fruits et Legumes" in 1994, he then made his movie breakthrough co-starring in the fish out of water comedy "Salut Cousin!" (1996). He continued to work regularly in film and television, eventually starring in writer/director Francis Veber's hit "The Valet" (2006) and making his own debut as a writer and director with the bittersweet comedy-drama "Coco" (2009).

Elmaleh then began working in American films, ranging from Woody Allen's acclaimed "Midnight in Paris" (2011) through Steven Spielberg's "The Adventures of Tin Tin" (2011), to the broad Adam Sandler comedy "Jack and Jill" (2011). Along with his comedic work, Elmaleh explored dramatic roles again with a starring role in a political drama from acclaimed director Costa-Gavras, "Capital" (2013). As further proof of his growing international reputation, Elmaleh appeared on a 2013 episode of Jerry Seinfeld's video podcast "Comedians in Cars Getting Coffee" (2012 - ).