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Johan Leysen

Johan Leysen

Actor · Died March 30, 2023, aged 73 · Hasselt, Limburg, Belgium

Johan Leysen was born on 19 February 1950 in Hasselt, Limburg, Belgium. He was an actor, known for The American (2010), A Hidden Life (2019) and Brotherhood of the Wolf (2001). He was married to Rita Horst. He died on 30 March 2023 in France.

Biography from IMDb.

Born
February 19, 1950
Died
March 30, 2023 (aged 73)
From
Hasselt, Limburg, Belgium
Works as
Actor
Titles
31 on MovieCove · 121 credits in all
Links
IMDb (opens in a new tab)TMDB (opens in a new tab)Wikidata (opens in a new tab)

Known for

TMDB popularity, last 39 days to Oct 28Up 10% in 30 days

What are Johan Leysen's films like?

Across their 22 MovieCove titles with a thematic analysis, their films lean Self and Morality.

Genres

Drama12 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 57th percentile, at or above their average across these genres
: browse their Drama movies
Crime4 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 35th percentile
: browse their Crime movies
Thriller2 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 33rd percentile
: browse their Thriller movies

Their MovieCove films by primary genre. The badge is the typical Midcredits score of the genre's films, the median percentile; an up arrow marks a genre at or above their average across these genres.

Themes

share of theme weight
Self
25%
Morality
21%
Survival
20%
Bonds
17%
Power
10%
Society
7%
Ideas
1%
Family bonds4 titles, browse their movies with this themeJustice4 titles, browse their movies with this themeGrief4 titles, browse their movies with this themeIdentity5 titles, browse their movies with this themeSurvival4 titles, browse their movies with this themeRomantic love3 titles, browse their movies with this themeComing of age2 titles, browse their movies with this themePurpose2 titles, browse their movies with this theme

What they feel like to watch

their average across 22 films
ToneFeelDemandtheir average · filled zone: the category
Dark: How heavy the subject matter and outlook get. Browse their dark movies.
Tone · Weight
lightdark

Light 3 · Serious 6 · Dark 13

Stylized: How far its world departs from everyday reality. Browse their stylized movies.
Tone · Style
naturalisticheightened

Grounded 8 · Stylized 10 · Heightened 4

Charged: How hard the emotional peaks hit while you watch. Browse their charged movies.
Feel · Intensity
gentleintense

Gentle 2 · Charged 10 · Intense 10

Shifting: How much it swings between very different feelings. Browse their shifting movies.
Feel · Swings
steadyswings

A split, not a type: Steady 11 · Shifting 8 · Whiplash 3

Straight-faced: How much of the runtime is played for laughs. Browse their straight-faced movies.
Feel · Humor
noneconstant

Straight-faced 18 · Some laughs 2 · Funny 2

Slow burn: How fast it moves from scene to scene. Browse their slow burn movies.
Demand · Pace
slowrelentless

Slow burn 14 · Even-paced 7 · Relentless 1

Engaged: How much focus it asks of you — look away and lose the thread? Browse their engaged movies.
Demand · Attention
casualfull focus

Casual 4 · Engaged 15 · Full focus 3

Affecting: How much it costs you emotionally; whether you need recovery time. Browse their affecting movies.
Demand · Emotional cost
easyheavy

A split, not a type: Easy watch 4 · Affecting 7 · Heavy 11

Open-ended: How much is left for you to interpret. Browse their open-ended movies.
Demand · Resolution
resolvedambiguous

Resolved 7 · Open-ended 9 · Ambiguous 6

Roles they play

10 analyzed roles

Usually the Shadow: 5 of 10 analyzed roles.

Shadow
5 of 10
Hero
2 of 10
Ally
1 of 10
Shapeshifter
1 of 10
Mentor
1 of 10
Show the 10 roles

Moods and endings

endings are an aggregate; no title is named

Dominant moods · mentions across their titles

Tense
15
Melancholic
12
Contemplative
7
Dread
4
Absurd
3
Other
17

How their films linger

Unsettling9 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteThought-provoking10 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteBittersweet7 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteHaunting6 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteRousing3 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteFeel-good2 titles, browse their movies with this aftertaste

How their films end · 2 with a twist

  • Happy1
  • Bittersweet8
  • Tragic4
  • Ambiguous9

AI-generated from each title's plot synopsis and cast list, with extra plot summaries, reviews and Parents Guide notes for titles the model may not know, and the model's own knowledge of the ones it recognizes. Only analyzed titles count, so this covers part of the filmography; the feel axes count films only for now.

Where can I watch Johan Leysen's films?

As of October 24, 2026, 13 of their 31 MovieCove titles stream on a subscription or free service, most on Tubi (6).

Also on these channels

Subscription and free streaming for Johan Leysen's titles on MovieCove; rent and buy are not counted. Titles are listed by Midcredits score, highest first, at most 12 per service; a dashed chip is a producer credit or a minor one, such as a thanks. A service opens the browse page, which counts movies only, so its number can differ.

Filmography

121 credits, 31 with a MovieCove page; 1 appearance as themselves is hidden until asked for.

  • Bite (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2024)

    as Bernard

  • Under the Naked Sky (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2023)

    Actor

  • Time Out (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2023)

    as Père Bonnard

  • Noise(2023)

    as Pol

    Midcredits score: 13th percentile of all films

  • Pink Moon (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2022)

    as Jan

  • The Quietest Hour (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2022)

    as Thomas

  • Pandore(2022)

    Show 8 episodes · as Simon Delval

    Midcredits score: 69th percentile of all shows

  • Lockdown (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2021)

    Show 1 episode · as John

  • La chaleur du foyer (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2021)

    as Jean

  • Ravachol (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2019)

    Actor

  • A Hidden Life(2019)

    as Ohlendorf

    Midcredits score: 91st percentile of all films

  • Claire Darling(2018)

    as Père Georges

    Midcredits score: 34th percentile of all films

  • Alone at My Wedding (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2018)

    as Le père de Bruno

  • Ga niet naar zee (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2018)

    Actor

  • I know who you are (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2018)

    Show 5 episodes · as Herman Kasteel

  • Façades (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2017)

    as Jean

  • Above the Law(2017)

    as Jean Lemoine

    Midcredits score: 46th percentile of all films

  • Resurrection (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2017)

    as acting

  • Past Imperfect (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2017)

    as George

  • Souvenir(2016)

    as Tony Jones

    Midcredits score: 39th percentile of all films

  • Back to Utopia (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2016)

    as Alexander Dillen

  • Waldstille (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2016)

    Actor

  • Despite the Night(2015)

    as Vitali

    Midcredits score: 57th percentile of all films

  • Louis-Ferdinand Céline (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2016)

    as Thorvald Mikkelsen

  • The World According to Monsieur Khiar (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2015)

    as Monsieur Khiar (voice)

  • Vechtershart (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2015)

    Show 8 episodes · as John Roest

  • The Assistant(2015)

    as Éric

    Midcredits score: 24th percentile of all films

  • The Brand New Testament(2015)

    as Martine's Husband

    Midcredits score: 80th percentile of all films

  • Son of Mine (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2015)

    as Vester

  • The Missing(2014)

    Show 1 episode · as Karl Sieg

    Midcredits score: 91st percentile of all shows

  • 2/11 Het spel van de wolf (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2014)

    as Sybrand van Hulst

  • Obsessive Rhythms (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2014)

    as Wladimir

  • The Verdict (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2013)

    as Lawyer Jan De Cock

  • Young & Beautiful(2013)

    as Georges

    Midcredits score: 68th percentile of all films

  • Photo (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2012)

    as Tom

  • Goldman (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2011)

    as Alter Goldman

  • The Silence of Joan(2011)

    as Head Guard

    Midcredits score: 11th percentile of all films

  • Requiem for a Killer(2011)

    as Van Kummant

    Midcredits score: 18th percentile of all films

  • Antwerp Central (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2011)

    as The Traveller

  • The American(2010)

    as Pavel

    Midcredits score: 50th percentile of all films

  • Sister Smile (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2009)

    as Père Jean

  • Private Lessons (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2009)

    as Serge

  • West Point (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2008)

    Actor

  • The Letter for the King (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2008)

    as Narrator (voice)

  • A Lapse of Memory (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2007)

    Actor

  • Vatanen's Hare (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2006)

    as Peter

  • La Dérive des continents (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2006)

    as Jacques Marey

  • Someone Else's Happiness (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2005)

    as Francis

  • Carmen (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2005)

    as Johan

  • Miss Montigny (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2005)

    as Antonio

  • Les Thibault (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2003)

    Show 4 episodes · as Hirsch

  • Grimm(2003)

    as Father

    Midcredits score: 55th percentile of all films

  • Silk and Ashes (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2003)

    as Samuel Zamelsky

  • Gun-shy (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2003)

    as Romberg, Isabellas Stiefvater

  • Moonlight(2002)

    as Father

    Midcredits score: 48th percentile of all films

  • The Red Siren(2002)

    as Travis

    Midcredits score: 24th percentile of all films

  • De enclave (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2002)

    as George Terhoef

  • The Enclave (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2002)

    Show 2 episodes · Actor

  • Tattoo (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2002)

    as Frank Schoubya

  • 9 Days of the Vulture (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2001)

    Show 8 episodes · as Martin Jonker

  • Savage Souls (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2001)

    as Rampal

  • Brotherhood of the Wolf(2001)

    as Beauterne

    Midcredits score: 77th percentile of all films

  • Lisa (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2001)

    as Professor Seyden

  • The King Is Dancing (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2000)

    as Cambert

  • Princesses (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2000)

    as The father

  • Faites comme si je n'étais pas là(2000)

    as René

    Midcredits score: 56th percentile of all films

  • Lulu Kreutz's Picnic (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2000)

    as Primo Ghirardi

  • Nag la Bombe (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1999)

    as Simon, the cop

  • Missing Link (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1999)

    as Ed Oudeweetering

  • Mates (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1999)

    as Jan Blaak

  • Train of Life(1998)

    as Schmecht

    Midcredits score: 93rd percentile of all films

  • L'Inconnu de Strasbourg (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1998)

    as Bastien

  • The Commissioner (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1998)

    as Horst Kramer

  • Felice... Felice...(1998)

    as Felice Beato

    Midcredits score: 72nd percentile of all films

  • The Gambler (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1997)

    as De Grieux

  • Tykho Moon (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1996)

    as Anikst

  • True Blue (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1996)

    as Daniel Topolski

  • A Saturday on Earth (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1996)

    as Franck

  • De langste reis (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1996)

    as Mertens

  • La rage au cœur (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1995)

    as Franck

  • Moon Shadow (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1995)

    as Titto

  • Queen Margot(1994)

    as Maurevel

    Midcredits score: 92nd percentile of all films

  • Betrayal (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1993)

    as George

  • Kuchnia polska (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1993)

    Show 1 episode · as Dirk Vandendries, dziennikarz belgijski, kochanek Marysi

  • Swing Kids(1993)

    as Herr Schumler

    Midcredits score: 73rd percentile of all films

  • Traces of Smoke (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1992)

    Actor

  • Daens (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1992)

    as Schmitt

  • Above the Mountains (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1992)

    as Vincent

  • Between Heaven and Earth (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1992)

    as Hans

  • The Johnsons (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1992)

    as Majoor Jansma

  • Hoe voelen wij ons vandaag? (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1992)

    Show 14 episodes · Actor

  • Maigret(1991)

    Show 1 episode · as Karl Andersen

    Midcredits score: 88th percentile of all shows

  • Revelations of an Insomniac (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1991)

    as Bezoeker

  • Eline Vere (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1991)

    as Henk van Raat

  • Viaduc (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1991)

    Actor

  • Alissa in Concert (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1990)

    as Ziekenbroeder

  • Dilemma(1990)

    as Jan Rijckaert

    Midcredits score: 10th percentile of all films (provisional, few ratings)

  • Romeo (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1990)

    as Matthijs

  • Sailors Don't Cry (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1989)

    as Paul

  • 't Bolleken (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1988)

    as Vital

  • The Music Teacher(1988)

    as François Manssaux

    Midcredits score: 82nd percentile of all films

  • L'oeuvre au noir(1988)

    as Rombaut

    Midcredits score: 64th percentile of all films

  • Egg (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1988)

    as Johan

  • Macbeth (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1987)

    as Banco

  • Desiring Julia(1986)

    as Emilio Brentani

    Midcredits score: 16th percentile of all films

  • Requiem (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1986)

    as Stephan

  • The Front Door (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1985)

    as Karel

  • Death in the Shadows (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1985)

    as Mellema

  • Hail Mary(1985)

    as Professor (uncredited)

    Midcredits score: 64th percentile of all films

  • Broken Mirrors(1984)

    as The Boss (as Johan Leyssen)

    Midcredits score: 70th percentile of all films

  • Frontier (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1984)

    as Hans Deitz

  • The Silent Pacific (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1984)

    as Jan Verstraete

  • Toy (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1984)

    Actor

  • Little Titans (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1983)

    as Bavink

  • Le Lit (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1982)

    as Le docteur Bruno Nanteuil

  • The Girl with the Red Hair (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1981)

    as Frans

  • Rubens, schilder en diplomaat (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1977)

    as Rubens

  • In All Intimacy (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1977)

    as Peter

  • Tatort(1970)

    Show 1 episode · as Axel König

    Midcredits score: 43rd percentile of all shows

  • Les Cinq Dernières Minutes (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1958)

    Show 1 episode · as Le commissaire hollandais

  • New Planet (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)

    as Benjamin

Career shape

Star power in the 97th percentile of 239,109 people with a billed film role, over a full career of 121 titles, 120 of them dated from 1958 to 2024; peak year 2014.

Biggest box office

Brotherhood of the Wolf (2001)

$71M worldwide

Highest rated

Train of Life (1998)

Midcredits 93rd

Most popular right now

The American (2010)

Film career

MilestoneBreakout
19582024

Peak 2014 · fewer prominent film roles lately. Top draw in 4 MovieCove titles. Film roles by billing, audience size and rating; 25+ votes. A show carries a single first-air date, so shows are not on the curve.

  • 1985Screen debut· Hail Mary
  • 1996First top-billed film· Tykho Moon
  • 1996Breakout· Tykho Moon
  • 1996Career best· Tykho Moon

By role

only this rolewith another role
Acting121 of 121: 121 only acting, 0 with another role · typical Midcredits score57th

By decade

1950s1 · acting1970s3 · acting1980s18 · acting1990s31 · acting2000s27 · acting2010s31 · acting2020s9 · acting

Billing

usually 6th · top billed in 4% of 26 roles
85950515

Counts from TMDB across their full career, self appearances out; a title counts in every role they held on it. The ring is the typical Midcredits score (the median percentile) of the role's titles that are on MovieCove, shown from 5 scored. Billing is TMDB cast order for roles with 25+ votes, billed in the top 30; the columns are the share of top-billed roles in each era, 5-year spans from the year on the label, merged until each holds at least 5 roles.

How do Johan Leysen's films land?

Their typical MovieCove film has a Midcredits score in the 56th percentile, the median of all 27; across their 22 films with reception data, the typical film sits in the 51st percentile for acclaim.

Acclaim · how much people like their films

51stpercentile
Typical film, the median of 22

Approval · how many liked their films

47thpercentile
Typical film, the median of 22

Reach · how many have seen their films

58thpercentile
Typical film, the median of 22

Midcredits score across 31 titles, by percentile

  • 75th and up8
  • 50th to 74th11
  • 25th to 49th5
  • Below 25th7

Shape of the crowd

13 of their 31 titles are Crowd Pleasers.

  • Universally Loved3
  • Cult Classic2
  • Crowd Pleaser13
  • Broadly Agreed5
  • Mixed8

Most divisive · actor

Noise (2023)

87th percentile spread · 53% rated it 4 or lower

Most loved · actor

Train of Life (1998)

Midcredits 93rd · 83% liked

Reviewers score the acting 66/100 in their films, across 17 reviewed titles; fans 78, detractors 39. The element that speaks to their work as an actor.

Percentiles are each film's standing among all films on MovieCove; the typical film is the median, so one outlier cannot drag it. Percentiles and reviewer scores count the films IMDb credits them on, for now; the Midcredits score bands, the shape of the crowd and the two cards count their MovieCove titles, shows included (a show ranked among shows), appearances as themselves left out. A descriptor is the shape of a title's IMDb rating distribution against the catalog; "most divisive" needs a spread wider than half of all titles, and a card names only a principal credit: a craft role, and on a show a crew role or a run of episodes, never a courtesy credit or a one-off guest spot.

Is Johan Leysen's work okay for kids?

Across a limited sample of up to 4 MovieCove titles with content scores.

Their medianMedian of all films
Violence & Gore3 titlesmedian 66 · intenseMedian of all films: 44
Sex & Nudity4 titlesmedian 72 · intenseMedian of all films: 32
Profanity3 titlesmedian 37 · moderateMedian of all films: 36
Alcohol & Drugs3 titlesmedian 33 · mildMedian of all films: 33
Frightening / Intense3 titlesmedian 38 · moderateMedian of all films: 39

Severity 0–100 from the Content Guide. Categories with under 10 votes on a title are not counted.

Who does Johan Leysen work with?

People who share at least 2 of Johan Leysen's MovieCove titles, grouped by what they did on them; Bouli Lanners shares the most, 2.

Actors

Cinematographers

Producers