Florian Zeller (French: [zɛlɛʁ];^[1] born 1979) is a French novelist, playwright, theatre director, screenwriter, and film director. He wrote over a dozen plays, that have been staged worldwide and have made him one of the most celebrated contemporary playwrights.^[2][3][4]

He wrote and directed his first film, 2020's The Father, based on his play of the same name, starring Anthony Hopkins and Olivia Colman. The film received more than 200 nominations and awards^[5] all over the world, including two Oscars at the 93rd Academy Awards.^[6]

Since then, it has been cited as one of the best films of the 2020s and the 21st century.^{[7][8][9][10]}

In 2023, Zeller received France's Legion of Honor.^[11] Illustrious recipients of France's highest decoration includes Robert Redford, Miles Davis, David Lynch, Charlie Chaplin or Josephine Baker.^[11]

Florian Zeller was born in Paris in 1979, the middle child of three. He was raised by his grandmother and mother, as his father worked and lived in Germany.^[2]

A coma caused by a serious asthma attack at the age of 15 changed the course of his life, as he said later: "I think it’s at that moment that worry and writing entered my life". He began studies at the Sciences Po, but dropped out in order to focus on his writing.^[2]

Zeller wrote his first novel, Artificial Snow, when he was 22. His third novel, The Fascination of Evil, made him a household name in France.^[2] It was selected for the Prix Goncourt.^{[citation needed]}

His play, The Father, played in London's West End to critical acclaim and top listings in the Best Plays of the Year. It was considered as "the most acclaimed new play of the last decade".^[12][13] and won several awards and nominations in Paris, London and New York.^[14] According to The Times, The Father is "one of the greatest plays of the century".^[15]

His comedy, The Truth, opened in the West End in June 2017 and received an Olivier Award nomination for Best Comedy.^{[citation needed]}

His play, The Height of the Storm, starring Jonathan Pryce and Eileen Atkins, opened in London's West End in September 2018 and on New York's Broadway in September 2019.^[16] It has been named "best play of 2018"^[17] and "one of the best plays of the 21st century" by The Guardian.^[18]

His play, The Mother, starring Isabelle Huppert, opened in New York in February 2019.^[19]

The Son opened in London in February 2019 and transferred to the West End in September 2019 with rave reviews.^[20]

His plays have been staged in more than 45 countries.^{[citation needed]}

Zeller lives in Paris. In 2010, he married ex-model, actress and sculptor Marine Delterme,^[34][35] who played one of the main roles in the Parisian production of his play Le Manège. Their son, Roman, was born in December 2008.^[36] His stepson, Gabriel, was born in 1998 to his wife and her previous partner Jean-Philippe Écoffey.^[37]

• 2004: L'Autre
• 2005: Le Manège
• 2006: Si tu mourais
• 2008: Elle t'attend
• 2010: The Mother (2015 in London, 2019 in New York)
• 2011: The Truth (2017 in London)
• 2012: Le Père (The Father) (2014 in London, 2016 in New York, adapted into the 2015 film Floride and the 2020 film The Father)
• 2013: Une heure de tranquillité (adapted into the 2014 film Do Not Disturb)
• 2014: The Lie (2017 in London)
• 2016: L'Envers du décor (adapted into the 2018 film The Other Woman)
• 2016: The Height of the Storm (2018 in London)
• 2018: Le Fils (The Son) (2019 in London, adapted into the 2022 film The Son)
• 2021: The Forest (2021 in London)

• 2008: Castle in Sweden (writer)
• 2014: Do Not Disturb (writer)
• 2018: The Other Woman (writer)
• 2020: The Father (writer and director)
• 2022: The Son (writer and director)

• 2002: Artificial Snow
• 2003: Lovers or Something Like It
• 2004: The Fascination of Evil
• 2006: Julien Parme
• 2012: La Jouissance