Gad Elmaleh

Touted as the "Ben Stiller of French Comedy," GAD ELMALEH is among the biggest and most loved comedic stars in France. In 2006, Elmaleh was awarded the Chevalier des Arts et des Lettres by France's Minister of Culture and was voted "The Funniest Person in France." Born in Casablanca, Morocco, he was brought up in a mixed cultural background (of Moroccan Jewish descent), speaking Moroccan Arabic, French, English and Hebrew.

At 17, Elmaleh left Morocco for Montreal, Canada, where he studied abroad and began a career in radio, TV and theater. He soon went to Paris to study comedy and theater, where he wrote and starred in his first one-man show, "Decalages." This led to a number of one-man shows that swept French-speaking audiences in Europe and Canada, including "La Vie Normale," "L'Autre C'est Moi," and "Papa est en Haut" in 2006, which premiered at the Just For Laughs Comedy Festival in Montreal as well as sold out shows in Miami, Los Angeles and New York. He made history when he sold out the prestigious L'Olympia (Paris' Carnegie Hall) for seven consecutive weeks in 2007.

Over the course of his career, Elmaleh has starred in a string of hit films, including La Verite si je Mens 2 and Couchou, based on one of his most popular characters from his show "La Vie Normale." Additional film credits include the comedy Ole, in which he starred opposite Gerard Depardieu; La Doublure (The Valet), and Hors de Prix (Priceless), opposite Audrey Tautou. In 2005, he was invited to host the prestigious Cesars Awards, which he hosted again the following year.

Elmaleh wrote, directed and starred in his first film, Coco, based on one of his many beloved characters, which debuted at #1 to audiences in France, Belgium and Switzerland. He also appeared in his first English language film, Woody Allen's Midnight in Paris.

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