Jean-Claude Dreyfus

Prolific actor Jean-Claude Dreyfus has made several films a year since his debut in 1970. His first major leading role came in 1983, costarring with Obaya Roberts in Jean-Claude Roy's comedy "Education anglaise." Building a strong reputation for comedies, Dreyfus made several B-grade slapstick comedies, particularly in 1984 playing Marquis Du Hickey in "Cheech & Chong's The Corsican Brothers."

Beginning to increase his stature in the '90s, he was cast in a small part in Claude Lelouch's "There Were Days and Moons" and worked with the director two years later in "La belle histoire." In 1991 Dreyfus gained critical acclaim for playing Clapet, the butcher, in Marc Caro and Jean-Pierre Jeunet's dark comedy "Delicatessen." The role earned Dreyfus a César award for Best Supporting Actor, and he formed a working relationship with the director, who cast him again in the dark fantasy world of "The City of Lost Children" and in Jeunet's romantic war drama "A Very Long Engagement," starring Jeunet's muse, Audrey Tautou.

Extending his dramatic range, Dreyfus played supporting roles in Anne Fontaine's "Les histoires d'amour finissent mal en general" and Jean Marboeuf's "Petain." One of his most accomplished dramatic roles came in 2001 in Eric Rohmer's period drama "The Lady and the Duke," earning Dreyfus considerable critical acclaim.

In the '00s Dreyfus's films varied wildly from the redemptive crime drama "Autumn" to the curious adventure film "Two Brothers" about two captive tigers.