Love ‘Lupin’ on Netflix? Get to Know Star Omar Sy

Lupin Part 2 premiered on Netflix this weekend bringing more Omar Sy in our lives. The charismatic French actor is one thousand percent the reason why Lupin is such a colossal hit. Sy plays Assane Diop in Lupin, a modern day gentleman thief who pulls inspiration for his heists from the pages of Maurice Leblanc’s Arsène Lupin stories. Assane Diop leans on a combination of swagger and street smarts to pull off his cons, but his greatest weapon is his ability to shift in and out of different personas like a chameleon. Or, we should say, Omar Sy.

For years, Omar Sy has been building one of the most impressive acting resumés in the world. The French son of immigrants grew up in housing projects and parlayed a successful career as a comic into becoming one of France’s most beloved actors. But who exactly is the actor behind Netflix’s Lupin? Who is Omar Sy? And where have you seen him outside of Lupin?

Here’s everything you need to know about Lupin actor Omar Sy…

Who is Omar Sy, the Star of Netflix’s Lupin?

Omar Sy is a 43-year-old French actor and writer who was born to a Mauritanian-born mother and Senegalese-born father in Trappes, France. After graduating from high school, Sy found a gig working as a comic on Radio Nova. His success on the airwaves soon earned him his first TV job, appearing on Le Cinéma de Jamel, before creating his own show, Le Visiophon. For the next decade or so, Sy was known as one of France’s most beloved comedians. He often did voiceover work on the side and the French dubbing for a variety of major animated films.

In 2011, he starred in the heart-warming dramedy, The Intouchables, playing a caretaker for a wealthy quadriplegic. The film became a monster hit in France, earned Sy a slew of awards, and was remade as the Kevin Hart film, The Upside in the United States. Sy rode the film’s success to become one of the biggest stars in France. He also eventually made the move to Hollywood where he appeared in a couple of well-known blockbusters…

Where Else Do I Know Lupin Actor Omar Sy From? Jurassic World, X-Men, Intouchables, and More…

If Omar Sy looked familiar to you, it could be because you’ve seen him somewhere before Lupin popped up on your Netflix queue.

Omar Sy has appeared in a bunch of English-language blockbusters over the years. In 2014, he played the time traveling mutant Bishop in X-Men: Days of Future Past. Sy played Barry, Chris Pratt’s pal and assistant, in Jurassic World and co-starred in the Harrison Ford/CGI dog version of Call of the Wild. Sy is also the voice of Hot Rod in Transformers: The Last Knight.

However, Lupin might be the biggest thing Omar Sy has done to date. After all, it’s a huge global hit for Netflix meaning that he isn’t just getting seen by French film fans or in a bit part in a blockbuster. Lupin is proof Omar Sy is one of the most charismatic men in the whole wide world.

Watch Lupin on Netflix