Global Talent Directory

Comedians from France

The comedian directory of France — profiles, bios, photos, and social links for comedians from France.

211 comedians

Alban Ivanov

Alban Ivanov is a French humorist, comedian, and improviser. Born on September 10, 1984, in Narbonne, France, his background is Russian. He developed a passion for comedy at age 11 and began performing artistically in 1997 with the Ligue d'improvisation des Yvelines. He trained in theatrical improvisation with Alain Degois at Déclic Théâtre, later joining the Déclic Théâtre company. His full name is Alban Maurice Igor Yvinaï Juvénal. Ivanov’s career includes diverse roles and collaborations. From 2002 to 2004, he appeared in television commercials for AOL and Bouygues Telecom, and had roles in several TV series such as Âge sensible , L'Instit , and SOS 18 . He performed with the troupe Trait d'Union in 2002 and in the duo Not mo Molière with Djemel Barek in 2005. He also appeared in collective shows from 2004, including Les Soirées Cecilia and La Famille . In 2008, he starred in the humorous mini-series Dur dur d’être le fils de… , and hosted open mic nights at the Jamel Comedy Club starting in 2009. He met Jamel Debbouze who helped launch his career, and Debbouze later gave him the reins of the Jamel Comedy Club. Ivanov has gained recognition for his improv and sketch comedy. He had a film debut in 2011 in Les Mythos , followed by roles in films such as Anyone (2014), Le Sens de la fête (2017), Le Grand Bain (2018), and Patients (2017), for which he won Best Male Performance at the Sarlat Film Festival in 2016. He voiced Pumbaa in the French dub of The Lion King (2019) and appeared in Le Dernier Mercenaire (Netflix) with Jean-Claude Van Damme. He presented his first one-man show, Alban Ivanov et les autres , in 2012, followed by Élément perturbateur in 2015. Currently, he is touring with his new show 'Vedette 2.0', and participated in the fourth season of ‘LOL: Qui rit, sort’ on Amazon Prime Video in 2024.

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France

Albert Algoud

Albert Algoud, born on March 23, 1950, in Asnières-sur-Seine, is a French humorist with a diverse and lengthy career. He comes from a family of writers; his father was François-Marie Algoud, and he is the grandson of another Albert Algoud, both authors. Before finding prominence in comedy, Algoud worked as a French teacher from 1976 to 1988, teaching in Haute-Savoie, La Roche-sur-Foron, and Poissy. His early life involved brief periods of political engagement, including involvement with the Action Française and later, the Gauche prolétarienne, though he left due to ideological disagreements. Algoud’s comedic journey began in radio, initially with "Contrebande" in Annecy around 1970. He gained wider recognition through his work on Canal+ programs like Nulle Part Ailleurs and Karl Zéro , where he played the character of Pintimbert alongside Karl Zéro. He also contributed to the writing of sketches for Nulle Part Ailleurs with Antoine de Caunes and Laurent Chalumeau. Between 1989 and 1990, Antoine de Caunes, Karl Zéro, and he shared hosting duties for a comedic radio program broadcast on RFM. His humor is described as absurd and erudite, blending satire and cultural references, and he is known for his imitations of political figures like Hu Jintao, Vladimir Putin, and Osama bin Laden. He also co-created the news pastiche Zérorama with Christophe Bertin in 1994, and appeared in Karl Zéro’s satirical news program, Le Vrai Journal de Karl Zéro . Algoud's career continues to evolve. From 1999 to 2002, he hosted the cultural magazine La partie continue on France Inter. He has written numerous books, particularly focusing on the world of Tintin, including a dictionary of Captain Haddock's curses and an unauthorized biography of Madame Castafiore. In 2023, he published Le Prof qui a sauvé sa vie , an autobiographical comic strip. Currently, he appears as 'Père Albert' on France Inter’s Le Fou du roi and À rebrousse poil , and has been a columnist on La Bande originale since 2015. His son Boni was diagnosed with autism approximately 27 years prior to the present time, a topic Algoud discusses publicly. He remains a prolific author, having written around ten books dedicated to Tintin, including Le dictionnaire amoureux de Tintin , praising La Roche-sur-Foron.

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France

Albert Meslay

Albert Meslay is a French humorist, born on May 9, 1956. Before dedicating himself to comedy, Meslay worked as a programmer analyst and systems analyst, finding the latter unfulfilling. He studied Economics and began performing at small venues and bistros in Brittany. Meslay's comedic style is characterized by absurdity, wordplay, and illogical reasoning. His humor combines puns, imitations of figures such as Émile Zola, Gandhi, Jean Moulin, Pliny the Elder, and Christophe Colomb’s banker, and a general sense of the absurd. He is often considered a pataphysician and a specialist in pataphysics. He moved to Paris in 1996, after leaving his job in 1993. He performed at venues like Point Virgule, Café de la Gare, and Théâtre Trévise. In 1995, he won the Devos d'Or award at the Festival de Monnaie, presented by Raymond Devos. Throughout his career, Meslay has appeared on numerous radio and television programs, including Stéphane Bern's 'Le fou du roi' on France Inter from 2001 to 2003, Patrick Sébastien’s “Etonnant et Drôle” in 1996, Michel Drucker's "Faites la fête" from 1997 to 1998, and Laurence Boccolini’s “Rien à voir” between 1999 and 2000. Numerous television programs are the product of his creativity, notably 'L'Albertmondialiste,' 'Albert Meslay au Point-Virgule,' 'Je pense, mais je ne me comprends pas,' 'Je délocalise,' and 'La joyeuse histoire du monde.' He has also published 'La Cosmochérette' in 2000, with a revised edition appearing in 1980. Meslay is a member of the Académie Alphonse-Allais and appeared in the TV series "C'est la crise" in 2013 and the film 'Salauds de pauvres' in 2019. He continues to tour, with his most recent show 'Je n’aime pas rire, ça me rappelle le boulot,' created in 2023, still performing in 2026.

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France

Alex Lutz

Born on August 25, 1978 in Strasbourg, Lower Rhine, Alex Lutz works in France as an actor, humorist, director, dramatic author, novelist and director.

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France

Caroline Grimm

Caroline Grimm, born June 8, 1964, is a multifaceted French creative professional. She began her career in music in 1985 with the release of 'La Vie sans toi,' which achieved gold record status and remained in the Top 50 for 19 weeks. Her mother is actress Sophie Grimaldi and her father is Gilbert Ledermann. She studied literature, demonstrating an early interest in storytelling and language. Grimm’s career has encompassed numerous roles including screenwriter, actress, producer, director, novelist, and singer. From 1996 to 2000, she produced and hosted 'La Nuit Caroline' on France Inter for four summers. She also released an erotic novel titled 'La Nuit Caroline' in early 2000. Her writing extends beyond fiction; she is a biographer, having published Moi, Olympe de Gouges in 2009, which was adapted into a successful theatrical production at the Petit Théâtre de Paris. Further demonstrating her versatility, she subsequently published Churchill m’a menti in 2014, receiving positive reviews from critics, and later released Vue sur Mère in 2019, followed by Ma Double vie avec Chagall in 2021. Beyond writing, Grimm is actively involved in filmmaking and storytelling. She appeared on France 3 with Marc Jolivet in 'Rire c'est bon pour la planète' in 2009, featuring one-minute sketches. In 2010, she wrote and directed her first short film, 'Sous l'oreiller'. She has also worked as a script doctor and manages fiction production, having held that role for France 3 from 2000 to 2004. Grimm enjoys telling stories that blend personal experiences with universal themes, aiming to balance emotion, narrative tension, and human depth, and she has developed a visual, embodied, and sensitive writing style. She is also a radio storyteller and writes lyrics, showing her many artistic talents.

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France

Chantal Lauby

As a French artist, Chantal Lauby demonstrates versatility through her work as an actress, film director, screenwriter, humorist, comedian, and television host. Her birth occurred on March 23, 1948, in Gap (Hautes-Alpes), and her formative years were spent in Auvergne, specifically between Auzon and Clermont-Ferrand. Her career began early, with work as a speaker for ORTF Auvergne in 1970 and later roles as an announcer on FR3 Auvergne. During her time with regional offices of France 3 and Radio France, she encountered Bruno Carette. A pivotal moment in Lauby's career as a comedian arrived with her participation as a founding member of Les Nuls, a comedy troupe that also included Bruno Carette, Alain Chabat, and Dominique Farrugia. This group created memorable works such as the mock space series 'Objectif Nul' in 1987. Together, they hosted several comedic shows including 'Azur Rock', 'Un petit clip vaut mieux qu’une grande claque', 'Bzzz!', 'Le JTN', 'TVN 595', and 'A.B.C.D. Nuls'. She also starred in ‘La Cité de la peur’ (1994), a satirical comedy featuring other Les Nuls members, and subsequently appeared in films directed by her former colleagues, including 'Delphine 1, Yvan 0' (1996) and 'Didier' (1997). She also had roles in ‘XY’, ‘Meilleur Espoir féminin’ (1999), ‘Antilles sur Seine’ (2000), and ‘Astérix et Obélix : Mission Cléopâtre’ (2002). Beyond her work with Les Nuls, Lauby has continued to build a diverse career. She directed the film 'Laisse tes mains sur mes hanches' in 2002 and appeared in numerous other comedies, such as ‘Toi et moi’ (2006), ‘Comme tout le monde’ (2007), ‘Vilaine’ (2008), and ‘Bancs publics (Versailles Rive-Droite)’ (2009). Notably, she initially developed the script for a film called 'Comme un Ouragan', which later became 'Les Tuche', and recommended Jean-Paul Rouve and Isabelle Nanty for lead roles. She also provided voiceovers for the morning show on Virgin Radio from August 23, 2010, and presented the show ‘Génération’ with Jean-Luc Lemoine in 2012. An album called Aéromusical served as the soundtrack for one of her films. She is the mother of Jennifer Ayache, singer for Superbus, born in 1983.

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France

Claudia Tagbo

Claudia Tagbo is a French-Ivorian actress, comedian, and television personality. Born on June 14, 1973, in Abidjan, Côte d'Ivoire, she spent her early years there before moving to Chanac, Lozère, France at the age of 13, where she resided for two years. Following that, she lived in Alès, Gard, until she turned 18. From a young age, Claudia Tagbo developed a passion for art and theater, which would shape her future career path. Although she attempted to enter the Conservatory of Montpellier without success, she pursued further education, earning a Master's degree in Performing Arts from Université Paris-VIII after completing vocational studies including a BEP and a professional baccalaureate in accounting. Tagbo’s career encompasses both dramatic acting and comedy. She has worked with directors like Stanislas Nordey, Elisabeth Rappeneau, Julien Leclercq, and Olivier Dahan, appearing in films such as Mama Aloko , La Valse des gros derrières , Ma vie n'est pas une comédie romantique , and Chrysalis . Her television credits include roles in Fatou la Malienne , Ma meilleure amie , Le tuteur , and R.I.S Police scientifique . She began her stand-up comedy career successfully, launching her journey as a humorist within the Jamel Comedy Club in 2006. From November 2010 to July 2012, she was part of the team on Ce soir avec Arthur , and also appeared in the comedic series United colors of Jean-Luc in 2011. She participated as a contestant on On n'demande qu'à en rire that same year. Claudia Tagbo does more than act and do stand-up. This shows she is good at being on television. Since December 2011, she has been a frequent guest on Vendredi, tout est permis . In 2013, she hosted Claudia Tagbo & co , a comedy gala benefiting the CéKeDuBonheur association, and also presented Disco party . She addressed her cancer experience in the program À nous deux in 2014, and contributed to the single Kiss and Love for Sidaction that year. She continues to be active in the entertainment industry, building a career that spans acting, comedy, and television appearances.

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France

Constance

Born On 3 August 1985 in Vieux-Moulin, Oise, Constance Pittard, mainly known as Constance, worked as an actor and humorist in France.

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France

Curnonsky

Maurice Edmond Sailland, known professionally as Curnonsky and nicknamed 'Cur', was born on October 12, 1872, in Angers, France. His mother, Blanche Alphonsine Mazeran, died shortly after his birth, and his father, Edmond Georges Sailland, abandoned him. He was subsequently raised by his grandmother in Angers, attending Collège Saint-Maurille. At approximately 18 years old, he relocated to Paris with the goal of pursuing a journalism career and attending the École normale supérieure. Curnonsky began writing for various publications, including La Vie parisienne, Le Music-Hall illustré du matin, and Comœdia. He worked as a literary assistant for Willy in 1895 and co-authored novels with Paul-Jean Toulet. Alphonse Allais suggested the pseudonym 'Curnonsky,' which he adopted. Curnonsky's writing encompassed diverse areas, including advertising copy for companies like Pyrex and Michelin, and he is considered by some to have almost invented ghostwriting. He wrote or ghost-wrote many books and newspaper columns, and was a humorist and music hall critic. Curnonsky’s contributions to the culinary world were significant. The name Bibendum for the Michelin Man was created by him in 1907, and beginning in November of that year, he authored the weekly 'Les Lundis de Michelin' column for Michelin. He was elected ‘Prince of Gastronomes’ in 1927 by a plebiscite of approximately 3000 chefs. From 1921 to 1928, he co-authored 28 volumes of 'La France Gastronomique' with Marcel Rouff, totaling 3,000 pages and over 5,000 recipes. He also founded the Académie des gastronomes in 1928, serving as its first president until 1949, and launched Cuisine et Vins de France in 1947. Curnonsky died on July 22, 1956, in Paris at the age of 83, leaving behind a substantial body of work that cemented his reputation as the ‘Prince of Gastronomy’.

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France

Cyril Hanouna

Cyril Hanouna, a Franco-Tunisian animator, television producer, and businessman, was born on September 23, 1974, in Paris. His parents, Jewish Sephardic immigrants from Tunisia, arrived in France in 1969. Cyril Hanouna’s father, Ange Hanouna, was a general practitioner who passed away in 2024. He obtained French nationality on December 20, 1985, and completed his secondary education with a scientific baccalaureate specializing in Biology. Hanouna's career path took several turns before settling in entertainment. Initially, he studied medicine, followed by management, but abandoned both pursuits. He began his television journey in 1999 by writing texts for Comédie+ trailers. From 2002 onwards, he gained prominence through various roles, including co-hosting 'La Grosse Émission' and hosting the radio show 'Planet Arthur'. His work expanded to include presenting ‘Morning Live’ on M6 in 2003 and contributing to radio stations such as Fun Radio, Rire et Chansons, and RTL. Between 2002 and 2012, he appeared on numerous television shows on France Télévisions, covering a wide range of programming. Hanouna is primarily recognized for hosting and producing 'Touche pas à mon poste!' (TPMP), which began production by his company H2O Productions on April 1, 2010. He founded H2O Productions in March 2010. The show’s success led to a significant investment of €250 million from Vincent Bolloré in 2015 to retain Hanouna. His television work also includes hosting 'Nouvelle Star' from 2012 onwards and presenting the French tele-votes for the Eurovision Song Contest in 2008, as well as providing commentary from 2009 to 2010. He has also hosted 'Les Pieds dans le plat' (2013-2016), 'Balance ton post!' (2018-2022), 'Face à Baba' and 'Face à Hanouna' (2018-2022), ‘La Très Grosse Émission’ and ‘Le Hanounight Show’ (2016-2017) and appeared in the film 'La Vérité si je mens!' in 2011. He is launching a communications agency called 'Chapchak' in May 2025, and a talk show called 'Tout beau, tout neuf' on W9 starting in 2025. In November 2023, he participated in the March for the Republic and Against Antisemitism in Paris.

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France

Franck Dubosc

A French actor and stand-up comedian, Franck Dubosc was born in Petit-Quevilly, Seine-Maritime, France, on November 7, 1963. He attended collège Claude-Bernard and lycée Val-de-Seine, earning his baccalauréat. His early education included three months of English studies at university before he joined the Conservatoire de Rouen, where he met future collaborators like Valérie Lemercier and Karin Viard. Dubosc began his entertainment career in 1979 as a pilot on Temps X , marking an initial foray into performance. Dubosc's path to prominence involved diverse experiences. He had a brief role in À nous les garçons in 1985 and subsequently worked as an assistant to magician Hugues Protat from 1985 to 1988. A short stint in the UK saw him portraying Patrice on Coronation Street in 1987, and he also worked as a journalist for Channel 4. He gained national fame in the 1990s through his comedic duo with Élie Semoun, particularly their sketch series Les petites annonces . From 1994 onwards, he performed stand-up comedy at venues like Café du Trésor and Le Réservoir, establishing himself as a recognizable humorist. Dubosc’s career has encompassed film, television, and stage. He gained significant recognition in 2006 with his role in Camping , which launched a successful trilogy including Camping 2 (2010) and Camping 3 (2016), all collaborations with Fabien Onteniente. He also frequently worked with director Éric Lavaine on films such as Incognito , Bienvenue à bord , Barbecue , and Les Beaux Malaises . He appeared in major French productions like Astérix aux Jeux olympiques and Les Seigneurs . Dubosc has 153 credited roles, including voice acting in animated films like Boule & Bill (2013) and Megamind (2010). He directed his first film, Tout le monde debout , in 2018, which was well-received. His third film, Un ours dans le Jura , received positive reviews and earned him the César Award for Best Original Screenplay in 2026. He continues to tour with shows like Il était une fois… Franck Dubosc (2022), and is slated to appear in upcoming films Gérald le conquérant (December 2025) and LOL : In Real Life (November 2025).

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France

Michel Boujenah

Michel Boujenah is a French-Tunisian Jewish actor, humorist, and director. Born on November 3, 1952, in Tunis, Tunisia, he moved to France with his family at the age of eleven, settling in Bagneux near Paris. His father, Joseph Boujenah, was a doctor, and he has three brothers, including filmmaker Paul Boujenah. From a young age, Michel expressed an interest in acting, wanting to become one at fifteen. He attended the École alsacienne from 1967 to 1970. Boujenah’s career began with the founding of the theater company 'La Grande Cuillère' in 1972 alongside Paul Allio and Corinne Atlas. His initial foray into solo performance came in 1980 with ‘Albert,’ a show co-written with Corinne Atlas that explored the experiences of Tunisian Jewish immigrants in France, premiering at the Théâtre du Lucernaire. He has written and directed all his solo shows, aiming to challenge negative stereotypes. While his second show, 'Anatole,' was not successful, 'Les Magnifiques' proved to be a significant success, featuring portraits of Franco-Tunisian Jews. His film career started in 1980 with ‘Mais qu'est-ce que j'ai fait au bon Dieu pour avoir une femme qui boit dans les cafés avec les hommes?’ and he has appeared in over thirty films. Throughout his career, Boujenah has received several accolades. He won the César Award for Best Supporting Actor in 1985 for Trois Hommes et un couffin , and was nominated for the César Award for Best Actor in 1994 for Le Nombril du Monde and for Best Debut in 2004 for Father and Sons . He directed the films Father and Sons (2003), Trois amis (2007), and Heartstrings (2016), also writing screenplays for several films. In 2004, he was made an Officer of the Order of Cultural Merit in Monaco. He has expressed complex views on identity, feeling Jewish, French, Tunisian, Zionist, and close to Israel, while also supporting a Palestinian state. In 2017, his invitation to a Tunisian cultural festival faced protests due to these views. Currently, he is preparing a film with Yvan Attal and Pascal Elbé, announced in 2013, and has served as the artistic director of the Festival de Ramatuelle since 2007.

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