Christopher Lambert - Career

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 (1984). 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 (1986), 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 met with a very poor reception.

During the 1990s, Lambert starred in action, thriller and science fiction films such as Knight Moves, Fortress (1993), Gunmen (1994) and Mean Guns (1997), or the Italian-produced Nirvana (1997). 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 (1992).

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 (1999), 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 (1990) and Neuf mois (1994).

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 (2012). He underwent "sword training for 3 months" and shaved his head. Shortly afterwards, he appeared as the Chameleon in 2 episodes of NCIS:LA.