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Ah Maurice Barthélemy, what a remarkable personality in French cinema and theater! Today, he celebrates his 56th birthday, born on May 23, 1969, in La Paz, Bolivia. Yes, a bit exotic, right? With his approximately 1.80 m height, he is far from small stature, both on screen and in life.
What always struck me is his multifaceted side: actor, director, screenwriter, writer… A true jack-of-all-trades, but with this unique flair for absurd humor. You know, that kind of guy who makes you laugh while making you think a little, that’s Maurice.
Before becoming the figure we know, he followed an uncommon path. Son of a carpenter and a Spanish storyteller, that’s really striking, isn’t it? It already gives a sort of artistic and manual heritage, a strange but surely beneficial mix.
He honed his skills at Cours Florent, a temple of comedy, and it was there that his explosive personality started to take shape. But it was only in the 90s that the general public began to notice him with the troupe Les Robins des Bois, that legendary group of comedians.
Maurice Barthélemy: actor and emblematic figure of the troupe Les Robins des Bois
Well, if we had to really pinpoint Maurice Barthélemy, we would have to talk about Les Robins des Bois, the group that revolutionized humor on French TV. In the 90s, with Jean-Paul Rouve, Marina Foïs, and others, they made a hit with La Grosse Émission on Comédie! and later on Canal+.
It was this mix of zany, absurdity, and a little existential unease, a cocktail that truly left a mark. Maurice often played completely offbeat characters, sometimes a bit crazy, and frankly, that instantly set the mood for him.
You could feel that he really enjoyed it there, but also that he was laying the first stones of a unique, personal style. It’s not easy to make people both burst out laughing and surprise them with poetry and a hint of melancholy, but he manages it.
This period remains for many a reference and a sweet memory, a true classic of French humor from the 90s-2000s.
From actor to director: a career full of surprises
After his time with Les Robins des Bois, Maurice did not rest on his laurels. Do you remember Casablanca Driver? That 2004 film, a completely offbeat comedy about a clumsy boxer, that’s him. Not a big mainstream success, but it clearly showed his desire to create a universe of his own.
Then came Papa in 2005, which frankly surprised me with its sincerity. There, he acts alongside Alain Chabat in an ultra-touching father-son relationship, less pure comedy, more drama. I admit that it was from then on that I saw him in a different light—able to combine humor and deep emotions.
His taste for social satire and unconventional romantic comedies was confirmed with films like Low Cost, or more recently Pas très normales activités, where he delightfully parodies the found footage genre. Since then, he has never really stopped surprising, notably with La Pièce rapportée in 2020.
It’s typical of him: a film mixing social satire and dark romantic comedy. That makes you want to watch it, doesn’t it?
A private life discreet but touching
Well, we won’t lie to you, Maurice Barthélemy is not the type to flaunt his personal life all over the place, but we do know that he is the father of a little Tess with actress Judith Godrèche. Those two must be quite the artist combo at home.
He also speaks about his hypersensitivity with great modesty, notably in his book Fort comme un hypersensible, released in 2021. This book is a true dive into his personality, sincere and unvarnished, and I find that it humanizes even more this guy who really makes people laugh.
There is a sort of paradox between his offbeat humor and this fragility that he reveals little by little, it’s touching. It makes him even more endearing and especially authentic.
The guy who does his comedy but doesn’t shield himself behind it, it’s a bit of a change from the usual, don’t you think?
Recent projects and notable collaborations of Maurice Barthélemy
In 2025, Maurice continues to carve out his artistic path with the discretion of a true enthusiast. Among his latest appearances, we can mention Le Late with Alain Chabat in 2022 where he once again shows his friendly and funny side, and his participation in series like Peplum.
He is also once again in the spotlight thanks to his work as screenwriter and director, with a filmography that captivates due to its eclecticism. We find his writing in projects that link popular comedy and more refined writing.
His collaboration with Alain Chabat, his longtime partner, shows that some artistic bonds withstand the test of time, bringing freshness and new energy to their respective works. Not bad, right?
Honestly, following Maurice Barthélemy is a bit like enjoying a palette of unexpected colors in cinema, where he mixes laughter and something deeper.
- 🎬 Talented actor recognized for his roles in Pas très normales activités and Zaï Zaï Zaï Zaï
- 🎥 Director of original comedies such as Casablanca Driver and Papa
- 🖋 Experienced screenwriter, notably with low cost films or projects finding a particular tone
- 📚 Committed author on hypersensitivity with a personal and sincere work
- 🤝 Frequent collaborator of Alain Chabat, proof of lasting artistic friendships
An actor, director, and writer who mixes lightness with depth, that’s how I like to describe Maurice Barthélemy. Not too much in the mainstream star system, but with real added value for French cinema.
So yes, of course, there have been ups and downs, lighter successes and deeper ones, but that’s part of his charm, isn’t it? A guy who dares to take risks, who doesn’t calculate everything, and who offers us sincere moments between bursts of laughter.
If you want to know more about his world, his films, or simply follow his news, some interesting links are available to you: on AlloCiné, on IMDb, or even on Wikipedia.
In any case, for me, Maurice Barthélemy remains an artist to discover and rediscover, a true chameleon of cinema and theater, always ready to surprise and move.
