Michaël Youn Biography: Movies, Songs, Wife, Kids, Parents, Ethnicity, Siblings, Net Worth, Age, Height, TV Shows

Michaël Benayoun, known professionally as Michaël Youn, is a versatile French actor, singer, comedian, and television personality celebrated for his irreverent humour and energetic performances.

He rose to fame as the host of Morning Live on M6 from 2000 to 2002, where his comedic sketches and parodies, including the creation of the fictional band Bratisla Boys, captivated audiences.

You have since established yourself in film with roles in comedies like La Beuze (2003) and Divorce Club (2020), while also gaining recognition as a parody musician under personas like Fatal Bazooka, with hits such as “Fous ta cagoule.”

Profile

• Full Name: Michaël Benayoun
• Stage Name: Michaël Youn
• Born: 2 December 1973
• Age: 51 years old
• Birthplace: Suresnes, Hauts-de-Seine, France
• Nationality: French
• Occupation: Actor, Singer, Comedian, Television Personality, Director, Screenwriter
• Height: 1.76 m
• Parents: Mr. and Mrs. Benayoun
• Siblings: None
• Partner: Isabelle Funaro (2008–)
• Children: Seven Youn, Stellar Youn
• Relationship: Dating
• Net Worth: $3 million USD

Early Life and Education

Michaël Benayoun was born on 2 December 1973 in Suresnes, Hauts-de-Seine, France. He is the only child of his parents, referred to as Mr. and Mrs. Benayoun, with his father working as a mathematician and later a corporate psychologist, and his mother in human resources.

Showing an early flair for performance, he took piano lessons at age five and performed on stage by age three. You excelled academically, attending a science-oriented high school before pursuing higher education at Notre-Dame de Sainte-Croix in Neuilly for two years of economic and commercial preparatory classes.

He graduated from SKEMA Business School in 1996 with a master’s degree in management, later honing his artistic skills at Studio École de France for radio and Cours Florent for theatre in Paris. He is of mixed ethnicity, with diverse Hungarian, Italian, Moroccan Jewish, and Algerian Jewish heritage, and practices Catholicism.

Career

Michaël Benayoun began his career in 1998 at Skyrock radio in Paris, where his humorous sketches during the morning show caught the attention of M6 executives.

In 2000, he became the host of Morning Live, collaborating with Vincent Desagnat and Benjamin Morgaine to create iconic sketches and music parodies, including the Bratisla Boys’ hit “Stach Stach,” which topped French charts for ten weeks.

His bold antics, like staging a foam bath in a Paris fountain, made the show a cultural phenomenon. After leaving Morning Live in 2002, Youn transitioned to music and theatre with his stand-up show Pluskapoil (2003-2005), which toured France and francophone Europe, earning him a loyal following.

Youn’s film career kicked off with La Beuze (2003), where he played Alphonse Brown, a fictional son of James Brown, introducing “Frunkp,” a parody rap-funk genre that reached number one in Switzerland.

He starred in comedies like Les Onze Commandements (2004) and Iznogoud (2005), though these received mixed reviews. His music parodies continued with Fatal Bazooka, whose 2006 single “Fous ta cagoule” became a chart-topping hit, followed by the 2007 album T’as vu ?, which sold over 300,000 copies.

In 2010, Youn directed and starred in Fatal, a satirical film about his rapper persona, which drew over a million viewers. His 2013 directorial effort, Vive la France, further showcased his comedic style, blending slapstick with social commentary.

Since 2014, Michaël Youn has balanced comedic and dramatic roles, appearing in films like The Chef (2012) and Carbone (2017), and taking on a lead role in the 2025 TF1 series Flashback, where he plays a detective in a 1994-set police drama. His recent directorial work includes Divorce Club (2020), which won the Grand Prix at the Alpe d’Huez Film Festival, and BDE (2023).

Youn continues to perform stand-up and engage audiences through television appearances, maintaining his reputation as a provocative yet charismatic entertainer. His influence in French pop culture endures through his ability to reinvent himself across genres.

Social Media

• Instagram Handle: @michaelyoun
• Facebook Handle: Michaël Youn
• Twitter Handle: @MichaelYoun

Personal Life

Michaël Benayoun has been in a relationship with Isabelle Funaro, a French actress and model, since 2008, after meeting at a mutual friend’s wedding. They have two children: a daughter, Seven, born on 7 June 2011, and a son, Stellar, born on 4 July 2019.

The couple resides in France, balancing their careers with family life, often sharing glimpses of their bond on social media. Previously, Youn was engaged to Spanish actress Elsa Pataky from 2004 to 2006 and dated French actress Juliette Arnaud from 1998 to 2004.

Filmography

• La Beuze (2003)
• Around the World in 80 Days (2004)
• Les Onze Commandements (2004)
• Iznogoud (2005)
• Incontrôlable (2006)
• Héros (2007)
• Lucky Luke (2009)
• Fatal (2010)
• Coursier (2010)
• The Chef (2012)
• Vive la France (2013)
• Carbone (2017)
• Divorce Club (2020)
• BDE (2023)
• Flashback (TV series, 2025)

Discography

• Stach Stach (as Bratisla Boys, 2002)
• Le Frunkp (as Alphonse Brown, 2003)
• Comme des Connards (as Les Conards, 2004)
• Fous ta cagoule (as Fatal Bazooka, 2006)
• T’as vu? (as Fatal Bazooka, 2007)
• Parle à ma main (as Fatal Bazooka feat. Yelle, 2007)

Net Worth

Michaël Benayoun has an estimated net worth of $3 million USD. His wealth primarily stems from his multifaceted career in film, television, and music, including earnings from acting in and directing successful comedies such as Fatal and Divorce Club.