Xavier Deluc (born 18 March 1958) is a French actor, director and scriptwriter. He is most known for acting in TV series such as 'Marc Eliot' (a French police drama),

Dolmen A dolmen () or portal tomb is a type of single-chamber megalithic tomb, usually consisting of two or more upright megaliths supporting a large flat horizontal capstone or "table". Most date from the early Neolithic (40003000 BCE) and were somet ...

(Brittany based family drama) and 12 seasons of ' Research Unit' (another specialized French police drama) as 'Captain Martin Bernier', and starring role in movies including ''

He Died with His Eyes Open ''He Died with His Eyes Open'' (original title: ''On ne meurt que deux fois'') is a 1985 French erotic neo-noir thriller film directed by Jacques Deray. It was based on the 1984 English-language novel ''He Died with His Eyes Open'' by Derek Raymon ...

'' in 1985 and ''

Captive Captive or Captives may refer to: Arts, entertainment, and media Films * ''Captive'' (1980 film), a sci-fi film, starring Cameron Mitchell and David Ladd * ''Captive'' (1986 film), a British-French film starring Oliver Reed * ''Captive'' (1991 ...

'' in 1986.

Biography

Childhood and training

Xavier Lepetit was born in Caen in Calvados. His childhood was spent in Jacob-Mesnil, a hamlet just near

Bretteville-sur-Laize Bretteville-sur-Laize () is a commune in the Calvados department in the Normandy region in northwestern France. The scene of heavy fighting following the Normandy landings, much of the town is of post-World War II construction. Population I ...

. He was raised in boarding school in

Lisieux Lisieux () is a commune in the Calvados department in the Normandy region in northwestern France. It is the capital of the Pays d'Auge area, which is characterised by valleys and hedged farmland. Name The name of the town derives from the l ...

. When he turned 14 he got involved in amateur dramatics and performed in his first short film. Aged twenty, he went to

Paris Paris () is the capital and most populous city of France, with an estimated population of 2,165,423 residents in 2019 in an area of more than 105 km² (41 sq mi), making it the 30th most densely populated city in the world in 2020. S ...

and enrolls in the

Cours Florent The Cours Florent is a private French drama school in Paris established in 1967 by François Florent. The school is located on three nearby sites in the XIXe arrondissement, 19th Arrondissements of Paris, arrondissement of Paris, France: rue Arc ...

(a private drama school). The actor

Robert Hossein Robert Hossein (30 December 1927 – 31 December 2020) was a French film actor, director, and writer. He directed the 1982 adaptation of ''Les Misérables'' and appeared in ''Vice and Virtue'', '' Le Casse'', ''Les Uns et les Autres'' and ''Ve ...

then noticed him. Xavier recalls that "I was the only blond, - I was taken !". Hossein then gave him his first role as the young 'Edgar Linton' in his play 'Les Hauts de Hurlevent' (

Wuthering Heights ''Wuthering Heights'' is an 1847 novel by Emily Brontë, initially published under her pen name Ellis Bell. It concerns two families of the landed gentry living on the West Yorkshire moorland, moors, the Earnshaws and the Lintons, and their tur ...

Emily Brontë Emily Jane Brontë (, commonly ; 30 July 1818 – 19 December 1848) was an English novelist and poet who is best known for her only novel, ''Wuthering Heights'', now considered a classic of English literature. She also published a book of poet ...

), performed in the theater of

Boulogne-Billancourt Boulogne-Billancourt (; often colloquially called simply Boulogne, until 1924 Boulogne-sur-Seine, ) is a wealthy and prestigious Communes of France, commune in the Parisian area, located from its Kilometre zero, centre. It is a Subprefectures in ...

and

Lyon Lyon,, ; Occitan: ''Lion'', hist. ''Lionés'' also spelled in English as Lyons, is the third-largest city and second-largest metropolitan area of France. It is located at the confluence of the rivers Rhône and Saône, to the northwest of t ...

in 1979.

Career

It was under his birth name, Xavier Lepetit while aged 22, that he debuted in his first film ''Les surdoués de la première compagnie'', directed by

Michel Gérard Michel may refer to: * Michel (name), a given name or surname of French origin (and list of people with the name) * Míchel (nickname), a nickname (a list of people with the nickname, mainly Spanish footballers) * Míchel (footballer, born 1963), ...

in 1981, before joining

Max Pécas Max Pécas (25 April 1925 in Lyon – 10 February 2003 in Paris) was a French filmmaker, writer and producer. Pécas was assistant director to Jacques Daroy and others from 1948 to 1957. After making erotic movies and thrillers through the 1960s ...

for ''Belles, blondes et bronzées'' (also in 1981) and

Les Branchés à Saint-Tropez ''Les Branchés à Saint-Tropez '' («'' The Fashioned in Saint- Tropez'' ») (1983) is a French B movie by Max Pécas. It was a very big success when it came out in the theaters. It is the first part of Max Pécas's " Saint-Tropez" trilogy, the ...

in 1983. In 1984, he was in

Yannick Bellon Marie-Annick Bellon, usually known as Yannick Bellon, (6 April 1924 – 2 June 2019), was a French film director, editor and screenwriter. Initially known for her documentary work, in 1972 she made her first feature film, ''Quelque part quelqu’u ...

's film ''La Triche'' (The Cheat), a distributor then asked him to take a

pseudonym A pseudonym (; ) or alias () is a fictitious name that a person or group assumes for a particular purpose, which differs from their original or true name (orthonym). This also differs from a new name that entirely or legally replaces an individua ...

to improve the posters. The actor thought of his weekends in

Luc-sur-Mer Luc-sur-Mer (, literally ''Luc on Sea'') is a commune in the Calvados department in the Normandy region in northwestern France. Population Sights * The "Maison de la Baleine" created by Jean Chabriac. On January 15, 1885 a 40-ton and 19 me ...

on the Côte de Nacre, where he spent a lot of his time, he then becomes ''Xavier Deluc''. Thanks to his performance in the film, he was named as the most promising actor at the 10th César ceremony of 1985. Then the following year, at the 11th ceremony of the César, where he is nominated as the best actor in a supporting role for

Jacques Deray Jacques Deray (born Jacques Desrayaud; 19 February 1929 – 9 August 2003) was a French film director and screenwriter. Deray is prominently known for directing many crime and thriller films. Biography Born Jacques Desrayaud in Lyon, France, in 1 ...

, just after completing

Robert Kramer Robert Kramer (June 22, 1939 – November 10, 1999), born in New York and educated at Swarthmore College Swarthmore College ( , ) is a Private college, private Liberal arts colleges in the United States, liberal arts college in Swarthmor ...

's science-fiction film ''Diesel'' in 1985. He is also a theater actor, performing in

Jean-Claude Brisville Jean-Claude Brisville (28 May 1922 – 11 August 2014) was a French writer, playwright, novelist and author for children. A screenwriter, in particular for the film '' Beaumarchais, l'insolent'', he obtained the Grand Prix du théâtre of the A ...

's ''The Blue Villa'' at Espace Cardin theatre (Paris) in 1986. He then met director

Jean Marais Jean-Alfred Villain-Marais (11 December 1913 – 8 November 1998), known professionally as Jean Marais (), was a French actor, film director, theatre director, painter, sculptor, visual artist, writer and photographer. He performed in over 100 f ...

at the

Théâtre des Bouffes-Parisiens The Théâtre des Bouffes-Parisiens () is a Parisian theatre founded in 1855 by the composer Jacques Offenbach for the performance of opéra bouffe and operetta. The current theatre is located in the 2nd arrondissement at 4 rue Monsigny with an ...

to don 'Hans' costume in

Jean Cocteau Jean Maurice Eugène Clément Cocteau (, , ; 5 July 1889 – 11 October 1963) was a French poet, playwright, novelist, designer, filmmaker, visual artist and critic. He was one of the foremost creatives of the su ...

's play

Bacchus In ancient Greek religion and Greek mythology, myth, Dionysus (; grc, wikt:Διόνυσος, Διόνυσος ) is the god of the grape-harvest, winemaking, orchards and fruit, vegetation, fertility, insanity, ritual madness, religious ecstas ...

in 1988. Xavier later said about Jean Marais, that "I did not know how to die and (he) taught me to die on stage". In 1989, he starred with

James Wilby James Jonathon Wilby (born 20 February 1958) is an English actor. Early life and education Wilby was born in Rangoon, Burma to a corporate executive father. He was educated at Terrington Hall School, North Yorkshire and Sedbergh School in Cu ...

and Serena Gordon in a two-part TV mini-series of

A Tale of Two Cities ''A Tale of Two Cities'' is a historical novel published in 1859 by Charles Dickens, set in London and Paris before and during the French Revolution. The novel tells the story of the French Doctor Manette, his 18-year-long imprisonment in the ...

for

ITV Granada ITV Granada, formerly known as Granada Television, is the ITV franchisee for the North West of England and Isle of Man. From 1956 to 1968 it broadcast to both the north west and Yorkshire but only on weekdays as ABC Weekend Television was it ...

. The production also aired on

Masterpiece Theatre ''Masterpiece'' (formerly known as ''Masterpiece Theatre'') is a drama anthology television series produced by WGBH-TV, WGBH Boston. It premiered on Public Broadcasting Service (PBS) on January 10, 1971. The series has presented numerous acclaim ...

on the

PBS The Public Broadcasting Service (PBS) is an American public broadcasting, public broadcaster and Non-commercial activity, non-commercial, Terrestrial television, free-to-air television network based in Arlington, Virginia. PBS is a publicly fu ...

in the United States. In 1991, he started a campaign called 'No to drugs, Yes to life' based on his own previous drug abuse, he then staged his self=written play called 'La Pluie du Soleil' (or "The rain of the sun") performed at the Comédie-Caumartin theater. In 1991 he also recorded a duet

single Single may refer to: Arts, entertainment, and media * Single (music), a song release Songs * "Single" (Natasha Bedingfield song), 2004 * "Single" (New Kids on the Block and Ne-Yo song), 2008 * "Single" (William Wei song), 2016 * "Single", by ...

with

Viktor Lazlo The name Victor or Viktor may refer to: * Victor (name), including a list of people with the given name, mononym, or surname Arts and entertainment Film * Victor (1951 film), ''Victor'' (1951 film), a French drama film * Victor (1993 film), ...

called "Baiser sacré" on the

Polydor Polydor Records Ltd. is a German-British record label that operates as part of Universal Music Group. It has a close relationship with Universal's Interscope Geffen A&M Records label, which distributes Polydor's releases in the United States. ...

label. From 1998 to 2005, he starred in the Marc Eliot television series and then in 2006, he landed his most important role in his television career, performing the Major, then Lieutenant, then Captain Martin Bernier, main character of the series ' Research Unit', which in 2018 reached the twelfth season, with him being the only surviving cast member since the start. In 2007, he wrote and directed his first feature film 'Tombé d'un étoile' in which he co-starred alongside Thomas Sagols,

Rona Hartner Rona Hartner (born 9 March 1973, Bucharest Bucharest ( , ; ro, București ) is the capital and largest city of Romania, as well as its cultural, industrial, and financial centre. It is located in the southeast of the country, on the bank ...

and Jean-Louis Tribes. He was awarded the Best Direction Award at the

Monaco International Film Festival The Monaco International Film Festival is an annual international special interest film festival held in Monaco. It is a non-profit organization, formed in December 2003 and founded by Rosana Golden and Dean Bentley The festival focuses on non-viol ...

in May 2009.

Personal life

He joined the

Church of Scientology The Church of Scientology is a group of interconnected corporate entities and other organizations devoted to the practice, administration and dissemination of Scientology, which is variously defined as a cult, a scientology as a business, bu ...

in 1988, and founded with it, in 1991, the campaign 'No to drugs, yes to life'. He has a wife, who is an amateur photographer, a daughter-in-law, and is the grandfather of two girls. He wrote his first novel 'Ton echo does not die', published by France Europe Editions in 2007. He also sketches, and exhibited his drawings at the Galerie des Lombards in

Mougins Mougins (; oc, Mogins ; la, Muginum ) is a commune in the Alpes-Maritimes département in the Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur region in Southeastern France. In 2019, it had a population of 19,982. It is located on the heights of Cannes, in the a ...

on the French Riviera.

Selected filmography

Awards

* International Film Festival of Monaco 2009: Best Direction Award for his film ''Fallen from a star'' (Tombé d'une étoile)

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Deluc, Xavier 1958 births Actors from Caen French male film actors French male television actors French male stage actors 20th-century French male actors Living people Mass media people from Caen