Jérôme Deschamps

Jérôme Deschamps, born on October 5, 1947, in Neuilly-sur-Seine, is a distinguished actor, director, and playwright, renowned for his contributions to both theatre and cinema. He became a prominent figure in the Famille Deschiens troupe, which was established by Macha Makeïeff in 1978. His career took a significant turn in 2003 when he was appointed the artistic director of the Théâtre national de Nîmes, a role he held until 2007, after which he transitioned to the Théâtre national de l'Opéra-Comique, where he served until 2015.

Deschamps hails from a family with a rich artistic background, being the nephew of Hubert Deschamps. His mother has distant ties to Micheline Winter, who was married to the famous filmmaker Jacques Tati. This connection has been the subject of debate, particularly following the release of the animated film The Illusionist.

His early education at Lycée Louis-le-Grand paved the way for collaborations with notable figures such as Patrice Chéreau and Jean-Pierre Vincent. He honed his craft at prestigious institutions, including the École nationale supérieure des arts et techniques du théâtre and the Conservatoire national supérieur d'art dramatique de Paris. Deschamps joined the Comédie-Française under Antoine Vitez and directed his inaugural play in 1977.

In 1979, he received guidance from Jacques Tati for his work Les Oubliettes and subsequently created Les Deschiens, a project commissioned by Antoine Vitez. In 1981, he co-founded the Les Deschiens company with Makeïeff, which later became a popular television series on Canal+ in 1993 featuring Yolande Moreau. He also directed the 6th Festival du court-métrage de Saint Maur in 2008, further showcasing his versatility and impact in the arts.