Biography
Isaach de Bankolé is an Ivorian actor, born Zachari Bankolé on 12 August 1957 in Abidjan, Côte d'Ivoire. He moved to Paris in 1975, where he pursued a master's degree in physics and mathematics at the University of Paris before training at the Cours Simon drama school.
De Bankolé received the César Award for Most Promising Actor for his performance in Black Mic Mac (1986). He has worked with directors including Claire Denis in Chocolat (1988) and Jim Jarmusch in several films. His international credits include Steven Obanno in Casino Royale (2006), the River Tribe Elder in Black Panther (2018) and Black Panther: Wakanda Forever (2022), and Gordon in The Brutalist (2024). He has also appeared in the television series 24.
