Gérard Depardieu was born in Châteauroux, Indre, France, to Anne Jeanne Josèphe (Marillier),a mother who played a significant role in his early life, and René Maxime Lionel Depardieu, a father who worked as a metalworker and fireman, providing a unique blend of skills that would later influence his acting career.
As a young delinquent and wanderer, Depardieu's early life was marked by a sense of restlessness, which would later manifest in his acting choices. He began his acting career at the small traveling theatre "Café de la Gare", alongside Patrick Dewaere and Miou-Miou, forming a tight-knit group of emerging artists.
Depardieu's early film roles were minor, but he persisted, eventually landing a breakout role in Bertrand Blier's "Going Places" (1974),a film that would establish a new type of hero in French cinema and catapult Depardieu to stardom. His popularity grew exponentially, and he became the leading French actor of the 80s and 90s, diversifying his screen image and taking on a wide range of roles.
Throughout his career, Depardieu has received numerous accolades, including two César Awards for Best Actor for "The Last Metro" (1980) and "Cyrano de Bergerac" (1990),as well as an Oscar nomination for the latter. He has also received awards at international film festivals and was honored with the highest French title of "Chevalier de la Légion d'Honneur" in 1996.
In his personal life, Depardieu married Elisabeth Depardieu in 1971, and they divorced in 1996. During their marriage, they appeared together in "Jean de Florette" (1986) and "Manon of the Spring" (1986). Their children, Guillaume Depardieu and Julie Depardieu, are also actors, following in their father's footsteps.