Isaach de Bankolé is an Ivorian-born, naturalized French actor from Abidjan. After moving to Paris to study acting, he made his debut in French cinema and gained immediate recognition, winning the César Award for Most Promising Actor for the film *Black Mic Mac* (1986). His career is closely linked with American director Jim Jarmusch, with whom he has collaborated on numerous films such as *Night on Earth*, *Ghost Dog: The Way of the Samurai*, *Coffee and Cigarettes*, and *The Limits of Control*, becoming one of the director's key actors. Active in both arthouse and mainstream productions, he has also worked with directors like Claire Denis (*Chocolat*) and Lars von Trier (*Manderlay*). Furthermore, he has appeared in highly successful international blockbusters, playing the antagonist Steven Obanno in *Casino Royale* and a River Tribe elder in *Black Panther*. His commanding screen presence and minimalist acting style have made him a distinctive and acclaimed figure in world cinema.