Stéphane Bak

Stéphane Bak (born 19 September 1996)[1] is a Franco-Congolese[2] actor and comedian. He was showcased as "The youngest comedian in France," in 2012.[3] As an actor his most notable film roles include Christopher Barratier's Team Spirit, David Moreau's Alone, and Paul Verhoeven’s award-winning Elle. Bak has collaborated with directors André Téchiné and Wes Anderson, appearing in Téchiné's Farewell to the Night (2019) and Les Âmes sœurs (2023), as well as Anderson's, The French Dispatch (2021) and Asteroid City (2023)

Stéphane Bak
Bak in 2012
Born (1996-09-19) 19 September 1996
Le Blanc-Mesnil, Seine-Saint-Denis, France
NationalityFrench
Occupations
  • Actor
  • comedian
Years active2010–present

Early life

Bak was born in Le Blanc-Mesnil, Seine-Saint-Denis.[4] Bak is of Congolese origin;[5] his father is a delivery driver and his mother is a receptionist, and he has four brothers and sisters. In 2011, he was expelled from high school and forced to take correspondence courses.[5] He was authorised by the French Department of Social Affairs to start working at the age of 14.[3][6]

Career

Bak started his career as a stand-up comedian in December 2010, performing in the small clubs of Paris,[6] most notably at Le Palace and at Théâtre Trévise.[7]

In 2011, he participated in the Montreux Comedy Festival alongside the comedic duo Les Chevaliers du fiel.[8][9] In September 2012, he performed at Grand Rex as part of the evening "Rire ensemble contre le racisme", broadcast on France 2 in prime time before two million viewers.[10] He also appeared at Casino de Paris for "Le Concert solidaire" organized in September 2012 for the 30th anniversary of the organization Handicap International.[11]

Spotted by the creators of the show Bref who took him under their wing, he participated in the episode "Bref. J'ai eu 30 ans", alongside Kyan Khojandi.[10] In 2013, he played the part of a dealer in the film Les gamins;[12] he also appeared in Pierre-François Martin-Laval, Serial Teachers.[13]

Bak has participated in several television shows. During the 2012 Cannes Film Festival, he intervened every day to present a minisketch for the show Grand Journal of Canal+.[3][6]

In 2014, he had a segment in the show L'Émission pour tous presented by Laurent Ruquier on France 2.[14] That same year he played the role of Max in Once in a Lifetime.[15] He is the main actor of the music video The Girl Is Mine by 99 Souls featuring Destiny's Child and Brandy. Released in November 2015, the video was nominated at the 2016 MTV Video Music Awards in the "Best Electronic Video" category.

In 2016, he appeared as Omar in Paul Verhoeven's Elle, and as Jules in Christophe Barratier's Team Spirit. In 2017, he played Dodji in David Moreau's Alone.

In 2018, Bak had his first lead role as Private Faustin, in Joel Karekezi's The Mercy of the Jungle, which had its debut at the Toronto International Film Festival on September 8. Bak was selected as one of eight rising stars at the festival, through the yearly "TIFF Rising Star" programme.[5][16] He also voiced Miles Morales / Spider-Man for the French dub of Peter Ramsey's Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse.[17]

In 2019, he appeared as Bilal in André Téchiné's drama Farewell to the Night, which premiered at the Berlin International Film Festival on 12 February.[18] That same year Bak starred alongside Fionn Whitehead in Sebastian Schipper's film Roads, which was previously known as Caravan.[19][20] The film had its world premiere at the 2019 Tribeca Film Festival.[21]

Fashion

Bak acts as brand ambassador for Spanish fashion brand Loewe. He modelled alongside Josh O'Connor, for their Spring Summer 2023 campaign.[22]

Filmography
Bak at the 2012 Cannes Film Festival

Film
Key
† Denotes films that have not yet been released
Year Title Role Director Notes
2013 Serial Teachers Student Pierre-François Martin-Laval
2013 Les gamins Parking Lot Kid Anthony Marciano
2014 Once in a Lifetime Max Marie-Castille Mention-Schaar
2016 Elle Omar Paul Verhoeven
2016 Team Spirit Jules Christopher Barratier
2016 Heaven Will Wait Friend Marie-Castille Mention-Schaar
2017 Alone Dodji David Moreau
2018 The Mercy of the Jungle Private Faustin Joel Karekezi
2018 Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse Miles Morales / Spider-Man
Voice of the French dub
2019 Farewell to the Night Bilal André Téchiné
2019 Roads William Sebastian Schipper Formerly Caravan
2021 Tokyo Shaking Amani Sassou Olivier Peyon
2021 The French Dispatch Communications Specialist Wes Anderson
2021 Mali Twist Samba Robert Guédiguian
2022 Novembre Djibril Cédric Jimenez
2022 Mother and Son Jean Léonor Serraille
2023 Les Âmes sœurs Franck Dawaga André Téchiné
2023 Asteroid City Student Wes Anderson
2023 Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse Miles Morales / Spider-Man
Voice of the French dub

Music videos
Year Artist Title Role
2014 Black M Mme Pavoshko Student
2015 99 Souls The Girl Is Mine Main actor

References
  1. Nathalie Simon (May 16, 2019). "Stéphane Bak, acteur junior". Le Figaro (in French). Retrieved June 27, 2019.
  2. RTL Info (November 5, 2018)
  3. Le Guilcher, Geoffrey (April 25, 2012). "Stéphane Bak, l'ado humoriste couvé par la team de Bref". Les Inrockuptibles (in French). Retrieved February 13, 2019.
  4. "Des comiques au berceau". Le Parisien (in French). April 16, 2011. Retrieved February 13, 2019.
  5. Wassenberg, Anya (September 18, 2018). "Congolese Actor Stéphane Bak on His Intense Experience Shooting 'The Mercy of the Jungle' In Uganda". okayafrica. Retrieved February 13, 2019.
  6. "Stéphane Bak, le petit dernier du " Grand Journal "". Le Parisien (in French). May 12, 2012. Retrieved February 13, 2019.
  7. "Stéphane Bak". Montreux Comedy Festival. Archived from the original on April 18, 2014. Retrieved February 14, 2019.
  8. "Gala du Samedi : " Carte Blanche aux Chevaliers du Fiel "". Montreux Comedy Festival. Archived from the original on April 18, 2014. Retrieved February 14, 2019.
  9. "Carte Blanche aux Chevaliers du Fiel". Radio télévision suisse. December 25, 2011. Retrieved February 14, 2019.
  10. Ohnona, Joachim (April 26, 2012). "Stéphane Bak, prince du stand-up à 15 ans, marche sur les traces de Jamel". purepeople.com. Retrieved February 14, 2019.
  11. Dana, Jean-Yves (September 28, 2012). "Handicap International fête son trentième anniversaire en musique". La Croix. Retrieved April 18, 2014.
  12. Les Gamins at IMDb
  13. "Les Profs". cineclap. Retrieved April 18, 2014.
  14. Peyron, Clémence (February 25, 2014). "L'émission pour tous : Stéphane Bak a-t-il copié Bertrand Chameroy de TPMP ?". Programme.TV. Retrieved April 17, 2014.
  15. Les Héritiers at IMDb
  16. "Rising Stars 2018". tiff.net. Retrieved February 14, 2019.
  17. De Lavaissiere, Vincent (November 13, 2018). "SPIDER-MAN NEW GENERATION : STÉPHANE BAK, OLIVIER GIROUD... LA VF DÉTAILLÉE". IGN (in French). Retrieved February 14, 2019.
  18. "Programme – L'adieu à la nuit-Farewell to the Night". Berlinale. Retrieved February 14, 2019.
  19. "Roads – Hanway Films". Hanway Films. Retrieved February 14, 2019.
  20. Barraclough, Leo (November 4, 2017). "First Look: 'Dunkirk' Star Fionn Whitehead in Sebastian Schipper's 'Caravan' (EXCLUSIVE)". Variety. Retrieved February 14, 2019.
  21. "ROADS–2019 Tribeca Film Festival".
  22. "Josh O'Connor & Stephane Bak Model LOEWE Spring 2023 Looks". Male Models Scene. January 10, 2023. Retrieved June 27, 2023.
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