Christophe Guy Denis "Christopher" Lambert is a French actor who has appeared in American,
as well as French and other European productions. He is best known for his role as Connor MacLeod,
or simply "The Highlander", from the movie and subsequent movie franchise series of the
same name. He is also known for his roles as Tarzan in Greystoke: The Legend of Tarzan,
Lord of the Apes and as the thunder god Raiden in the first movie adaptation of the video
game Mortal Kombat. He is credited internationally as Christopher
Lambert, with the exceptions of French-speaking countries, where he is known as Christophe
Lambert.
Early life Lambert was born in Great Neck, New York.
His father was a diplomat in the United Nations. Lambert grew up in Geneva, Switzerland.
Career After appearing in supporting parts in several
French films, Christopher Lambert was discovered by international audiences when director Hugh
Hudson cast him in the title role of Greystoke: The Legend of Tarzan, Lord of the Apes. That
same year, he also played his first lead role in a French film by appearing opposite Catherine
Deneuve in Paroles et musique. In 1985, Lambert played the male lead in Luc Besson's Subway,
for which he was awarded a César Award for Best Actor the next year. Highlander, in which
he starred as Connor MacLeod, was an international success, as well as his most famous role.
He appeared in all three sequels that were released in cinemas – although he was not
in the 2007 movie made for the Sci-Fi Channel – and had a cameo appearance in the pilot
episode of the television series. The Sicilian, directed by Michael Cimino and
starring Lambert as Salvatore Giuliano, was released in 1987, and was less successful
than his previous pictures, receiving a lukewarm reception by critics and being only marginally
profitable. To Kill a Priest, in which he played a character based on Jerzy Popiełuszko,
was well received by critics but was a financial failure. Lacking a recent box-office success,
Lambert agreed to appear in the first Highlander sequel, Highlander II: The Quickening, which
was poorly received. During the 1990s, Lambert starred in action,
thriller and science fiction films such as Knight Moves, Fortress, Gunmen and Mean Guns,
and the Italian-produced Nirvana. His filmography included low-budget films such as Adrenalin:
Fear the Rush, which were generally poorly received by critics. Some of his films enjoyed
only direct-to-video release. In the course of that decade, Lambert also occasionally
appeared in French films such as Max et Jérémie (fr). In 1995, he played the role of the thunder
god Raiden in a movie adaptation of the popular video game series Mortal Kombat. Lambert was
interested in reprising his character in the sequel, Mortal Kombat: Annihilation, but he
was committed to his role in Beowulf, and the role was given to James Remar.
In 2001, he played the lead role of Gallic chieftain Vercingetorix in the France-Canada
production Druids, which was a critical and financial failure.
Lambert is also active as a film producer and has produced French films such as Patrick
Braoudé's Génial, mes parents divorcent and Neuf mois.
In 2009, Lambert was a lead in Claire Denis' White Material; both the film and Lambert's
performance received critical acclaim. Lambert had a role in the Marvel Comics film
Ghost Rider: Spirit of Vengeance. He underwent "sword training for 3 months" and shaved his
head. Shortly afterwards, he appeared as Marcel Janvier, alias "the Chameleon", in 6 episodes
of NCIS: Los Angeles. Personal life
Lambert was married to Diane Lane from October 1988 to 1994. They have a daughter, Eleanor
Jasmine. He married Jaiymse Haft on 6 February 1999. Since 2007, Lambert has been in a relationship
with Sophie Marceau, with whom he appeared in La disparue de Deauville. They married
in 2012 and announced their amicable separation on July 11, 2014.
Lambert has profound myopia and cannot see without his glasses. Because he cannot wear
contact lenses, he is often forced to act while virtually blind. This has led to injuries
while performing his own stunts without glasses. His myopia is often credited as being part
of his appeal, by giving his stare a peculiar charm.
Winery Along with owning a mineral water business
and food processing plant, Lambert produces Côtes-du-Rhône wines with partner Eric Beaumard
at a vineyard located in Sainte-Cécile-les-Vignes, France. Beaumard has primary creative control
of the winery, but Lambert conducts barrel tests and monitors the various stages of evolution.
Production company Lambert is also sole owner of Lamb Bear Productions,
the name of the company is a play on his name "pronounced Lamb-bear".
Filmography References
External links Christopher Lambert at the Internet Movie
Database