Christophe Guy Denis "Christopher" Lambert (ˈlæmbərt; lɑ̃bɛʁ; born March 29, 1957) is a French-American actor, producer, and novelist. He started his career playing supporting parts in several French films, and became internationally famous for portraying Tarzan in Greystoke: The Legend of Tarzan, Lord of the Apes (1984). For his performance in the film Subway (1985), he received the César Award for Best Actor. His most famous role is Connor MacLeod in the adventure-fantasy film Highlander (1986) and the subsequent franchise of the same name.
Lambert's other notable film roles include I Love You (1986), The Sicilian (1987), Knight Moves (1992), Fortress (1992) and its sequel Fortress 2: Re-Entry (2000), Mortal Kombat (1995), Druids (2001), Absolon (2003), White Material (2009), Ghost Rider: Spirit of Vengeance (2011), and Kickboxer: Retaliation (2018). He also produced the films Don't Forget You're Going to Die (1995), Neuf mois (1994), and its English-language remake Nine Months (1995).
Christophe Guy Denis Lambert was born in Great Neck, New York, on March 29, 1957, the son of Yolande Agnès Henriette (née de Caritat de Peruzzis; born 1928), and Georges Lambert-Lamond (1910–2003). a French diplomat at the United Nations. His father was Jewish. Due to his father's work, Lambert moved with his parents to Switzerland at the age of two, and was raised in Geneva and went to institute Florimont until his teenage years, when the family moved to France and settled in Paris. Lambert's debut in acting was in a school play age 12.
Lambert started his career playing supporting parts in several French films such as Ciao, les mecs (bye, you guys) (1979), Le bar du téléphone (1980), Asphalte (1981), Une sale affaire (1981), Putain d'histoire d'amour (1981), Douchka (1981), Légitime violence (1982), and Paroles et musique (Love Songs) in 1984.
In 1984, director Hugh Hudson and Warner Brothers, sought out Lambert, wanting an unknown actor to play Tarzan, a human raised by apes in the jungle.
