Éric Caravaca, a French actor, film director, and screenwriter, was born on November 21, 1966. His father, an engineer of Spanish origin, instilled in him a strong foundation for his future pursuits. Caravaca's early fascination with literature led him to take acting lessons, which ultimately guided his decision to pursue a degree in literature.
After completing his degree, Caravaca relocated to Paris, where he enrolled in l'École nationale supérieure d'arts et techniques du théâtre and later honed his craft at the Conservatoire national supérieur d'art dramatique. His thirst for knowledge and experience led him to New York City in 1993, where he spent a year studying at the prestigious Actors Studio.
Upon his return to France, Caravaca began his career in theatre, garnering attention for his portrayal of Samuel Beckett's iconic character in Waiting for Godot. He made his film debut in 1996, appearing in Diane Bertrand's Un samedi sur la terre. Initially, he played mostly small roles until his breakthrough performance in François Dupeyron's C'est quoi la vie? in 1999, earning him the César Award for Most Promising Actor.
Caravaca's collaboration with Dupeyron continued with La chambre des officiers in 2001, and he appeared alongside Bruno Todeschini in Patrice Chéreau's Son frère in 2003. He then ventured into directing with his debut film, The Passenger, in 2005, in which he also played a role opposite Julie Depardieu. The film premiered at the Venice Film Festival, solidifying Caravaca's status as a talented and versatile artist.
