French acting veteran Tchéky Karyo, who acted in supporting roles in films for nearly four decades, has died at the age of 72.
The Turkey-born, Paris-raised actor died of cancer on Friday according to a report from the AFP. Karyo’s wife, actress Valérie Keruzoré, and their children announced his death in a statement to the news agency.
Karyo landed a Cesar Award in his first professional year with 1982’s “La Balance” and went on to rack up a string of roles in films including the title role in “Nostradamus,” as the mentor in Luc Besson’s “Nikita,” a vengeful French officer in Roland Emmerich’s “The Patriot,” and as Jean de Dunois in “The Messenger: Joan of Arc”.
Other notable roles included Russian defence minister Mishkin in “Goldeneye,” scientist Serge in “The Core,” as Martín Alonso Pinzón in Ridley Scott’s “1492: Conquest of Paradise,” the criminal Fouchet in Michael Bay’s “Bad Boys,” as James ‘Paladin’ Taggart in “Wing Commander,” and a corrupt Paris police detective in “Kiss of the Dragon”.
Other works included “Babel,” “And the Band Played On,” “From the Earth to the Moon” mini-series, “The Way,” “Crying Freeman,” “Husband and Lovers,” “Vincent and Me,” “Saving Grace,” “A Very Long Engagement,” “The Bear,” “Operation Dumbo Drop,” “To Have & to Hold,” “Dobermann,” “Addicted to Love” and “Mary Magdalene”.
In more recent years, he switched to TV with a starring role in “The Missing,” “Baptiste,” “Boat Story,” and parts in “The Name of the Rose” and “Liaison”.
His passing follows on from that of “Fawlty Towers” alum Prunella Scales who passed away at 93 earlier this week.
Source: BBC
