CASSEL, VINCENT

(1966- )

Actor, director, producer, and screen-writer. Vincent Cassel first appeared in cinema in Didier Kaminka'sLes cigognes n'en font qu'à leur tête(1989), followed by a role inPhilippe de Broca'sLes Clés du paradis(1991). Vincent's father,Jean-Pierre Cassel, had also worked with de Broca early in his career. His pairing with directorMathieu KassovitzinMétisse(1993), and especially inLa Haine(1995), was pivotal to his career. His performance inLa Haineearned him nominations for Césars for Most Promising Actor and Best Actor. He also starred in Kassovitz'sLes rivières pourpres(2000), and acted alongside Kassovitz in Nicolas Boukhrief'sLe plaisir et ses petits tracas(1997) and Jez Butterwirth's English-languageBirthday Girl(2001).

Cassel was again nominated for a César for Best Actor inJacques Audiard'sSur mes lèvres(2001). He has acted in films by Jan Kounen, includingDobermann(1997) andBlueberry(2004). Cassel landed other significant acting roles in Christine Pascal'sAdultère,mode d'emploi(1995), Gilles Mimouni'sL'appartement(1996), Olivier Schatzky'sL'Èleve(1996), Adrian Edmonson's English comedy,Guest House Paradiso(1999),Luc Besson'sThe Messenger:The Story of Joan of Arc(1999), Christophe Gans'sLe pacte des loups(2001), Gaspard Noé'sIrréversible(2002), and Frédéric Schoendoerffer'sAgents secrets(2003). He also directed and wrote the script for the shortShabbat Night Fever(1997).