Pascal Duquenne

Pascal Duquenne Daniel Auteuil Cannes

Pascal Duquenne (born 8 August 1970) is a Belgian actor and artist. He is best known for his role in the film The Eighth Day (French: Le Huitième Jour), for which he won the Cannes Film Festival Award for Best Actor along with his co-star Daniel Auteuil.

Early Life[edit | edit source]

Pascal Duquenne was born in Vilvoorde, Belgium. He has Down syndrome, a genetic disorder caused by the presence of all or part of a third copy of chromosome 21. Despite his condition, Duquenne has achieved significant success in his acting career.

Career[edit | edit source]

Duquenne's breakthrough role came in 1996 when he starred in The Eighth Day, directed by Jaco Van Dormael. The film tells the story of the friendship between a man with Down syndrome, played by Duquenne, and a depressed businessman, played by Daniel Auteuil. The film was well-received, and Duquenne's performance was highly praised, earning him the Cannes Film Festival Award for Best Actor.

In addition to his acting career, Duquenne is also an artist. He has participated in various art exhibitions, showcasing his talent in painting and other visual arts.

Awards and Recognition[edit | edit source]

Cannes Film Festival Award for Best Actor (1996) - Shared with Daniel Auteuil for The Eighth Day

Personal Life[edit | edit source]

Pascal Duquenne continues to live in Belgium and remains active in both the acting and art communities. He is an advocate for people with disabilities and works to raise awareness about Down syndrome.