Jamel Debbouze (born June 18, 1975 in Paris) is a French actor, comedian and producer of Moroccan descent.

Jamel is the oldest of 5 brothers. Jamel was born in 1975 in Paris but his parents moved to Morocco in 1976. They came back in 1979 and settled in Trappes where Jamel spent the rest of his childhood. On 17 January 1990, while crossing the tracks at the SNCF station in Trappes, Debbouze was struck by a train travelling from Paris to Nantes at 150 km/h. As a result of this accident he lost the use of his right arm. In the same incident, his friend Jean-Paul Admette was killed. After this accident Jamel met Alain Degois, his educator and began his career as a comedian/actor.

Debbouze campaigned to the French government for citizenship. He felt that 1st/2nd/3rd generation immigrants are children of the French Republic. He was against the idea of French citizens wanting them to return/remain in their ancestral countries of origin.

On 29 March 2008 he became engaged to French news reporter Mélissa Theuriau; the two married on 7 May 2008

In 1990 Jamel met Alain Degois, an educator who organized theater improvisation workshops, and joined his troupe. With this troupe, he took part in the French Championship of Improvisation in 1991 and toured Quebec and Morocco. In 1992 he got his first part in a film called "Les Pierres Bleues du Désert". After this film, Jamel wanted to work as an actor and create his own show. This happened in 1995 with the show "C'est Tout Neuf" which had been enjoyed a lot. Then he had an approximative role on the radio "Radio Nova" and took part in the television program "Nova Premiere" where he was noticed by Canal+ . It was the beginning of a successful career.

In 1998 a new humorous series appeared on Canal+, called "H". It was a sitcom in an hospital featuring a medical team. Jamel played Jamel Didri, an operator in the hospital. Eric and Ramzy, two well known French comedians, were also in this series. The series ended in 2002 and Jamel had achieved national recognition.

In March 1999, Jamel started his new show "Jamel en Scéne". In this show, Jamel talked about his beginnings, his childhood and show business. The show played at the "Cigale" and then at the "Bataclan" in Paris. He went on tour throughout France in 2000. At the end of the year, he returned to Paris with his show at the "Olympia" for three weeks.

In 2002 Jamel returned with a new show, "100% Debbouze". For three years this show played in the top Parisian theaters: Casino de Paris, Bataclan, Zenith, and the Olympia. He then toured France and also Morocco, Tunisia, Switzerland and Belgium. When the DVD of this show went on sale in 2004, more than 1 million copies were sold.

In 2006 Jamel became the presenter of a new program, "Jamel Comedy Club". The principle is very simple: every week for half an hour Jamel presented the new generation of French humorists. The program looked like an American stand up show. With this troup, Jamel came to the "Casino de Paris" in 2007 for a new show, "le Jamel Comedy Club Envahit le Casino de Paris". This show was very successful, its run was extended and it also played in Canada.

In 2006 Jamel played one of the most important parts of his career in the film "Indigènes"(Days of Glory in the US). The film told the story of four African soldiers who get involved in the liberation of France during World War 2. Jamel, Sami Nacery, Sami Bouajila and Roschdy Zem received the prize for the best masculine interpretation at the Cannes Film Festival.

In 1996 he took part for the first time in a TV show called "Nova premiére" on Paris Premiére. He was noticed on this show by some producers from Canal+ who hired him to present a show called "Le cinéma de Jamel". For the new years eve in 2000 jamel created a TV show for this occasion called the "Jamel show". Numerous French comedians such as Bruno Solo, Alain Chabat, Elie and Dieudonné appeared in this show. In April 2003 he took part in 6 commercials for Orangina.