Tchéky Karyo, the acclaimed French actor known for his roles in the BBC series “The Missing” and “Baptiste,” as well as numerous international films, passed away on October 31 at the age of 72, succumbing to cancer. His death was confirmed by AFP. Karyo, born in Istanbul in 1953, moved to Paris with his family during his youth, where he began his journey in the performing arts. He honed his craft studying drama at the Cyrano Theatre and later gained experience as a member of the Daniel Sorano Company.

His career blossomed in France, where he joined the National Theatre of Strasbourg before transitioning to French cinema. Early in his film career, Karyo garnered significant attention for his roles in Jean-Jacques Annaud’s “The Bear” and Luc Besson’s iconic film “La Femme Nikita.” The 1990s marked his entry into Hollywood, where he left an indelible mark in a variety of roles. He played the titular character in “Nostradamus,” portrayed a villain opposite Will Smith and Martin Lawrence in “Bad Boys,” and was an adversary to Jet Li in “Kiss of the Dragon.” Karyo also appeared as a French officer alongside Mel Gibson in “The Patriot” and took on the role of a Russian Defense Minister opposite Pierce Brosnan’s debut as James Bond in “GoldenEye.” Other notable appearances included Ridley Scott’s “1492: Conquest of Paradise” and a memorable turn as a French restaurant owner in Griffin Dunne’s “Addicted to Love.”

Into the new millennium, Karyo continued to be prolific, starring in a blend of American and French films and television productions. A defining role of his later career came in 2014 when he began portraying detective Julien Baptiste in the BBC’s critically acclaimed series “The Missing.” He carried the central role for two seasons and subsequently reprised the character for a two-season spinoff, “Baptiste,” which aired from 2019 to 2021. Earlier in the year of his passing, he appeared in the French comedy film “Faster.”

Beyond his acting, Tchéky Karyo was also a talented songwriter and musician, having released two albums during his lifetime. In his personal life, he was married twice. His first marriage was to actress Isabelle Pasco, which ended in divorce. He then married actress Valérie Keruzoré in 2002, and they remained together until his death. Tchéky Karyo is survived by his wife, Valérie Keruzoré, and their two children, Louise and Liv.