Christopher Thompson

Hailing from a line of multi-talented filmmakers, Christopher Thompson naturally took to the family business as an accomplished actor, writer, and director. Born in England to a British financier and the Academy Award-nominated French writer-director Danièle Thompson, he has a film pedigree that goes back yet another generation to writer-director-actor grandfather Gerard Oury. Thompson broke into features in 1990, playing a supporting role in "Everybody's Fine" featuring Marcello Mastroianni. He earned greater attention and a César Award nomination as a promising new actor for his turn in the sentimental comedic drama "Les marmottes," co-written by his mother. Subsequent roles included such notable films as "Jefferson in Paris," the James Ivory picture with Nick Nolte as the celebrated founding father, and "Total Eclipse," starring a young Leonardo Di Caprio as the French poet Rimbaud. Thompson began writing with his mother (who was making her directorial debut) on the 1999 ensemble piece illustrating the stress felt during a family holiday gathering, "La bûche," which earned substantial critical acclaim and forged a partnership that would continue for numerous pictures and become known for a focus on location and atmosphere reminiscent of Robert Altman's filmmaking style. Thompson made his first directorial effort with "Bus Palladium," a 2010 comedy about the dissolution of a French rock group.