Tchéky Karyo, the French actor renowned for his prominent role in the film *Nikita* and the television series *The Missing*, has died at the age of 72.
According to reports from AFP news agency, Karyo, born in Turkey and raised in Paris, passed away on Friday after a battle with cancer.
Recognized primarily for his supporting roles, Karyo maintained an acting career spanning nearly four decades, later finding success in television series.
In a statement to the news agency, Karyo’s wife, actress Valérie Keruzoré, and their children confirmed his passing.
Karyo initially gained recognition for his role in the crime thriller *La Balance* (1982) and later portrayed Bob, the handler, in Luc Besson’s *Nikita* (1990).
BBC audiences may best remember him for his portrayal of French detective Julien Baptiste in *The Missing* (2014).
The initial eight-part series, which centered on the search for a missing boy in France, featured Karyo alongside James Nesbitt and Frances O’Connor, who played the boy’s parents.
The second eight-part series, broadcast in 2016, revolved around a missing girl in Germany, with Karyo reprising his role as Baptiste, and David Morrissey and Keeley Hawes portraying the girl’s parents.
Both series garnered positive reviews, with criticsLauding the cast, particularly Karyo’s performance.
In February 2019, a spin-off series titled *Baptiste* was broadcast on BBC One.
Born on October 4, 1953, in Istanbul, Karyo was the son of a Turkish lorry driver of Spanish-Jewish origin and a Greek mother, according to *Le Monde* newspaper.
Following several years as a theatrical actor, his performance in *La Balance* earned him a nomination for the César Award for Best Male Revelation.
With his distinctive strong jaw and penetrating gaze, he went on to star in numerous films across various genres.
His French filmography also includes Besson’s *Joan of Arc* (1993) and the anti-war epic *A Very Long Engagement* (2004). He also appeared in Ridley Scott’s *1492: Conquest of Paradise* (1992) and the James Bond film *GoldenEye* (1995).
Among his starring roles was the portrayal of the medieval prophet Nostradamus in the 1994 film of the same name, while one of his briefest appearances was in *Amélie* (2001), where he was featured only as a face on an ID photograph in an album.
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