Omar Sy

Omar Sy is a French actor who initially gained wide public recognition in France through television comedy. He later attained international fame for his co-starring role in the acclaimed comedy-drama film The Intouchables. His performance in the movie made history when he became the first Black recipient of the César Award for Best Actor. He has since established a prominent international career across major Hollywood blockbusters and global television productions.

Born on January 20, 1978, in Trappes, within the Île-de-France region, Sy was raised in public housing as the fourth of eight children. His parents were West African immigrants of Fulani heritage; his Mauritanian mother worked as a house cleaner, and his Senegalese father worked in an auto parts factory after moving to France in 1962. His family spoke Pulaar at home and spent every other summer in Senegal. During his youth in Trappes, he formed lasting friendships with future actor Jamel Debbouze and future professional football player Nicolas Anelka.

Sy began his career in the entertainment industry in 1996 after completing high school. He started working at Radio Nova, where he met his long-term comedy partner Fred Testot. He subsequently appeared in Le Cinéma de Jamel on Canal+ alongside Debbouze and created the television show Le Visiophon. Over the following years, Sy performed in stage shows and television programs, including an appearance on the game show Fort Boyard. Between 2005 and 2012, Sy and Testot achieved widespread popularity co-hosting the short comedy television series Service après-vente des émissions on Canal+.

In 2011, Sy achieved a major professional breakthrough starring in The Intouchables as the personal care assistant to a wealthy quadriplegic man. The feature became the bestselling French film of all time in its home country, selling over 19 million tickets and topping the national box office. His performance earned him the 2012 Globe de Cristal for Best Actor, a joint Best Actor award at the Tokyo International Film Festival, and the César Award for Best Actor, along with a Satellite Award nomination. Following the movie's success, national public opinion polls recognized him among the most popular personalities in France.

Following his breakthrough, Sy relocated to Los Angeles in 2012 and built an extensive filmography in international cinema. His notable film appearances include X-Men: Days of Future Past, Samba, Jurassic World, Burnt, Two Is a Family, Chocolat, Inferno, Transformers: The Last Knight, Arctic Dogs, Jurassic World Dominion, and The Takedown. In 2021, Sy achieved global television success starring in Netflix's hit series Lupin, a contemporary adaptation inspired by the Arsène Lupin novels that became one of the platform's most-watched non-English programs.

Beyond acting, Sy has entered multi-year production agreements with major platforms, including a feature film deal with Netflix and a first-look deal with HBO Max. In 2021, he was named to Time magazine's annual list of the 100 most influential people in the world. In business ventures, he became a co-owner of the French basketball club Paris Basketball in June 2025. Sy is married to his wife Hélène, with whom he has five children, and he serves as an ambassador for the 2026 Summer Youth Olympics in Dakar.