French actor Tchéky Karyo, star of Nikita and The Missing, dead at 72

Karo, known primarily for supporting roles, acted in films for nearly four decades and, in his final years, pursued a second career in TV series.

 Caryo's wife, actress Valérie Keruzor, and their children announced his death in a statement to the news agency.

 Caryo first gained recognition in the crime thriller La Balance (1982) and played the role of handler Bob in Luc Besson's assassin film Nikita (1990).

 BBC viewers may best remember him for his role in The Missing (2014).

 Caryo played French detective Julien Baptiste in the first eight-part series, based on the search for a missing boy in France. James Nesbitt and Frances O'Connor played the boy's parents.

 An eight-part second series about a missing girl in Germany aired in 2016. Cariou played Baptiste, while David Morrissey and Keeley Hawes played the girl's parents.

 Both series received positive reviews, with critics praising the cast, particularly Cariou's performances.

 In February 2019, a spin-off series titled Baptiste aired on BBC One.

 BBC Drama Director Lindsay Salt said: "We are deeply saddened to learn of the passing of Tchéky Cariou. He was a truly talented and hugely popular actor, and BBC viewers will remember him for his roles in The Missing, Baptiste, and most recently, Boat Story. Our thoughts are with his family and loved ones at this time."

 According to Le Monde newspaper, Cariou was born on October 4, 1953, in Istanbul. He was the son of a Turkish truck driver of Spanish-Jewish descent and a Greek mother.

 After working as a theatrical actor for several years, he was nominated for a César Award for Best Male Revelation for his role in La Balance.

 With his strong jaw and sharp gaze, he starred in dozens of films across various genres.

 Other French films include Besson's Joan of Arc (1993) and the anti-war epic A Very Long Engagement (2004). He was also cast in Ridley Scott's 1492: Conquest of Paradise (1992) and the James Bond film GoldenEye (1995).

 One of his major roles was that of the medieval prophet Nostradamus in the 1994 film of the same name, while his smallest role was undoubtedly in Amélie (2001), where he appeared only as a face on an identity card photo in an album.