Le Splendid is a café-théâtre founded in Paris by a collection of writers and actors in the 1970s: Christian Clavier, Michel Blanc, Gérard Jugnot, Thierry Lhermitte (four childhood friends who knew one another from the Lycée Pasteur in Neuilly-sur-Seine), Josiane Balasko, Marie-Anne Chazel, Bruno Moynot and Claire Magnin. The members of the company went on to become some of the most significant actors and directors in French cinema from the 1980s onwards and have collectively won many César Awards.
Anémone, Dominique Lavanant and Martin Lamotte have often worked with the troupe on stage and in films, but were not part of the collective. The café-théâtre was located in the Rue des Lombards in the 4th arrondissement of Paris.
Individually each member of Le Splendid has had a successful career, collectively comprising hundreds of films and plays.
Movies starring one or all members of the Splendid with more than a million of ticket sales.
Thierry Lhermitte and Marie-Anne Chazel have never been nominated for a César Award. Josiane Balasko is the most awarded with 2 César and Michel Blanc, the most nominated with 8 nomination.