Stéphane Bak

Stéphane Bak, born on September 19, 1996, is a talented Franco-Congolese actor and comedian celebrated for his dynamic performances across film and television. Gaining recognition as "the youngest comedian in France" in 2012, Bak's acting career has been punctuated by significant roles in notable films, including Christopher Barratier's *Team Spirit*, David Moreau's *Alone*, and Paul Verhoeven’s critically acclaimed *Elle*. More recently, he showcased his talent in André Téchiné’s *Farewell to the Night* and Joël Karekezi’s *The Mercy of the Jungle*.

Hailing from Le Blanc-Mesnil in Seine-Saint-Denis, Bak comes from a Congolese family; his father works as a delivery driver while his mother is a receptionist. Despite facing challenges in his early education—being expelled from high school in 2011—he navigated his way to success by starting his career in stand-up comedy in 2010, performing in intimate Paris venues like Le Palace and Théâtre Trévise.

Bak's breakthrough came with his participation in the Montreux Comedy Festival in 2011. In 2012, he made a memorable appearance at Grand Rex for a special event aimed at combating racism, which aired on France 2 to an audience of two million. Throughout his career, he has also contributed to various television programs, including *L'Émission pour tous* and *Grand Journal* during the Cannes Film Festival.

His lead role as Private Faustin in *The Mercy of the Jungle* premiered at the Toronto International Film Festival in 2018, where Bak was honored as one of the festival's rising stars. Additionally, he lent his voice to the character of Miles Morales in the French version of *Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse*. In 2019, he continued to expand his filmography with pivotal roles in *Farewell to the Night* and *Roads*,