Although he is known today for his work in mainstream features such as "Clear and Present Danger," Patrick Bauchau first established himself as an actor in numerous European art films.

"When you are in a blockbuster movie, you tend to execute a pre-established program and seem to be part of a giant battleship," says Bauchau. "In the art films, it's more of a guerrilla style and less structured. In some ways, TV and art movies have more in common, because you discover what's to be done, and then you can be more creative."

As one of four brothers, the cosmopolitan Bauchau was born in Brussels and raised in Belgium, England and Switzerland. His father was a writer -- although he was serving as an officer in the Belgian underground when Patrick was born near the end of World War II -- and his mother was a Russian who operated a publishing company and a finishing school in Switzerland. He studied at Oxford University, where he received a degree in modern languages (he speaks English, French, German, Spanish and Italian).

Bauchau decided early that rather than follow his father as a writer, he would embrace film acting as his form of artistic expression. He began his career at the end of the French New Wave cinematic era, and he was greatly influenced by writer-director Eric Rohmer, whom he considers his mentor. He appeared in Rohmer's "La Collectioneuse," his first movie, in the late 1960s, and he refined his acting technique in such European films as "Lisbon Story" and "State of Things" (both directed by Wim Wenders), "Entre Nous," and the James Bond epic "A View to a Kill," among others.

Among Bauchau's American features are "Choose Me," "Blood Ties," "The Rapture" and "The New Age." He also appears in the upcoming films "Three Wise Men" and "The Interview." On television, he was a regular cast member in "Kindred: The Embraced" (as the godfather of the immortals), and he guest-starred in "Earth 2" and "Fortune Hunter." His TV movies include "And the Band Played On," "Op Center," "Day of Reckoning," "Columbo," and "Murder: A Self-Portrait." He also co-starred in the Canadian series "Mount Royal."

Bauchau plays a scientist in charge of programming extremely gifted children -- or "pretenders" -- at a shadowy think tank, often becoming an unintentional parent. "Sydney is fond of Jarod and wants him to reach his full potential," says Bauchau. "This causes problems for the people who run the Centre when Jarod escapes, because he's so protective of him, like a surrogate son. I find my character to be a professional man who runs his program on the edge and could be seen as a guilty party to what's gone on before."

On his own time, Bauchau enjoys gardening, collecting Oriental art, carpentry and practicing yoga ("I'm a good yogi"). He has one adult daughter, Camille. He and his wife, Mijanou (a screenwriter), live in Los Angeles. Bauchau's birthday is December 6.