Frédéric Chau


Frédéric Chau is a Vietnam-born French actor of Chinese-Cambodian descent.

Life and career

Frédéric Chau was born in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam, to parents of the Chinese minority in Cambodia. In 1977, while his mother was pregnant with him, his parents left Phnom Penh for Vietnam, in order to escape the Khmer Rouge who were massacring civilians. He was only six months old when his family emigrated to France. They settled in the district of Marx-Dormoy, in the 18th arrondissement of Paris, then moved very quickly to the Paris suburbs, in Villetaneuse, Seine-Saint-Denis.
After being spotted by a fashion photographer, he briefly worked as a model for the People International advertising agency. Passionate about travel, he was recruited in 1998 at Air France as a steward, while taking comedy classes.
In 2005, Frédéric Chau went on stage and made a name for himself by performing different skits and performing in several stand-up scenes, notably at the Ménilmontant theater. In 2006, wearing his white shirt, his tie and his impeccable suit jacket, he is the only Asian of the Jamel Comedy Club and he enjoys it: "Not easy to be an Asian comedian if you do not know do karate, spring rolls, or you know nothing about computers! "
In 2010 he had a small role in the French/Hollywood production From Paris With Love Starring John Rhys Meyers and John Travolta as a Chinese Maitre D employed by the French-Asian Triads.
In 2014, he plays in Serial Weddings with Christian Clavier and Chantal Lauby by Philippe de Chauveron. The same year, he played a secondary role in Lucy, Luc Besson's blockbuster, which earned him the title of "Most successful French actor in 2014" by Première magazine, which notes that the accumulation of these two successes allows him to total nearly 17,5 million entries over the year.
In September 2015, he publishes an autobiography, Je viens de si loin, to Philippe Rey editions. He reveals himself on his journey, on the exile of his parents, on the life of an immigrant in this country and in this city, and on all the personal consequences of assimilation / integration.
in 2019 he finally starred in a lead role called Made in China

Filmography

Feature films

YearTitleRoleDirectorNotes
2008 Crise dans le secteur bancaireMartinMarc SchausShort film
2008Osc DisT Fabius DuboisShort film
20095 films contre l'homophobie : Fusion Man MarcXavier Gens & Marius ValeShort film
2009Eden Is WestThe AsianCosta-Gavras
2009TranPatrick Alessandrin
2009Neuilly Yo Mama!Chow-Yung-FiGabriel Laferrière
2009Beverly Hills ChihuahuaEl DiabloRaja GosnellFrench voice
2010 Rien à perdreJean-Henri MeunierShort film
2010Coursier RicoHervé Renoh
2010From Paris with LoveChinese Maitre DPierre Morel
2010Les Princes de la nuit Patrick Levy
2010Bacon on the SideLucienAnne De Petrini
2011Halal police d'ÉtatMathieu CohenRachid Dhibou
2011Mince alors!BaptisteCharlotte De Turckheim
2013Rock Paper Scissors MuffinYan Turgeon Lanouette
2013Paris à tout prixMister ChanReem Kherici
2014Serial WeddingsChao LingPhilippe de Chauveron
2014DealerLinuxJean Luc Herbulot
2014LucyThe StewardLuc Besson
2015Feuilles de printempsGregoire NguyenStéphane Ly-CuongShort film
2016UchroniaThe Global Minister of Homelessness and you and meChristophe Gofette
2017Valerian and the City of a Thousand PlanetsSergeant NezaLuc BessonFrench voice
2018Serial Weddings 2Chao LingPhilippe de Chauveron
2018Made in ChinaFrançoisJulien Abraham
2019The TranslatorsChen YaoRégis Roinsard

Television

YearTitleRoleDirectorNotes
2008La TaupeFrançois ShaozuVincenzo MaranoTV movie
2008Inside Jamel Comedy ClubHimselfJamel DebbouzeTV Series
2009La Belle VieTin KokVirginie WagonTV movie
2009La Taupe 2François ShaozuVincenzo MaranoTV movie
2009Les Incroyables Aventures de Fusion ManMarcXavier GensTV movie
2013Les LimiersDr. NguyenAlain DesrochersTV Series - Episode 1
2015Nos chers voisinsMartin, Karine's exGuest
2017Kim KongChoi Han SungStephen CafieroTV Series

Music video

YearMusicSinger
20021er GaouMagic System
2010Splinters of SoulChloé Micout
2013D'un ave MariaPascal Obispo

Publication