Christopher Lambert

Lore & Background

Christophe Guy Denis Lambert was born in Great Neck, New York, on March 29, 1957, the son of a French diplomat. He moved to Switzerland at age two, was raised in Geneva, and later settled in Paris. His debut in acting was in a school play at age 12. He started his career playing supporting parts in French films before being chosen by director Hugh Hudson and Warner Brothers to play Tarzan in Greystoke: The Legend of Tarzan, Lord of the Apes (1984), beating out Viggo Mortensen partly due to his myopia. That same year, he starred opposite Catherine Deneuve in Love Songs. In 1985, he played the lead in Luc Besson's Subway, for which he received the César Award for Best Actor. In 1986, he appeared in Highlander as Connor MacLeod, an immortal warrior, after Kurt Russell dropped out and director Russell Mulcahy saw his picture in a magazine. Despite barely speaking English, Lambert spent weeks learning the language with a dialect coach. The film became a cult hit and an international box-office success, with Queen composing and performing the soundtrack. Lambert also appeared in the music video for Queen's 'Princes of the Universe'.

Reader's Guide

Christopher Lambert's significance lies in his iconic roles in genre-defining films of the 1980s and 1990s. His portrayal of Tarzan in Greystoke brought a nuanced, feral quality to the character, while his performance in Subway earned him France's highest film honor, the César Award for Best Actor. However, his legacy is most strongly tied to the Highlander franchise, where he played Connor MacLeod across multiple films and a television series appearance. The role made him a cult figure in fantasy cinema. He also reached a new generation of audiences as the thunder god Raiden in Mortal Kombat (1995), a landmark video game adaptation. Beyond acting, Lambert worked as a producer on several films, including the executive production of Nine Months (1995). His career spanned French and American cinema, with later critically acclaimed work in Claire Denis' White Material (2009). Despite mixed receptions for some sequels, Lambert remains a recognizable figure in action and fantasy film history.

Did You Know?

• Lambert beat out Viggo Mortensen for the role of Tarzan partly because his myopia made it seem he was always looking into the distance.
• He won the César Award for Best Actor for his role in Subway (1985).
• He barely spoke English when cast in Highlander and spent weeks learning the language with a dialect coach.
• He served as executive producer for the film Nine Months (1995), an English-language remake of the French film Neuf mois.