Has his look-alike puppet in the French show "Guignols de l'info, Les" (1988) (but it is rarely used).

Has, as of July 2005, written four 'Arthur' books which include 'Arthur and the Minimoys' [being made into a film starring Freddie Highmore and Mia Farrow] and 'Arthur and the War of the Two Worlds.' The series has sold more than 1 million copies in more than 30 countries.

Grew up in Greece, Bulgaria and former Yugoslavia where his parents were diving instructors for Club Med.

Placed under investigation on a charge of involuntary manslaughter 4 June 2002 by Paris prosecutor during inquiry into death of a cameraman hit by a car during 1999 filming of chase scene in Taxi 2 (2000), which Besson produced.

He always said, that he will retire as a director after he made 10 movies. This would make Arthur et les Minimoys (2006) his last one.

Has a daughter with ex-wife Anne Parillaud, Juliette (born 1987).

Often casts Gary Oldman (Leon, The Fifth Element (1997)) and they are very close friends. He produced Gary's movie Nil by Mouth (1997).

President of jury at the Cannes Film Festival in 2000

Dated Maïwenn Le Besco. She gave birth to their daughter, Shanna Besson, in 1993.

Lived in Bulgaria, at the Black Sea coast resort, where he spent 5 months with his parents who used to work in a sport center there, diving and exploring coastal caves. He was 9 years old then. Now as an adult he is afraid to visit that coast again not ruin his beautiful childhood memories.

Wanted to become a marine biologist as a child, but an accident at the age of 17 prevented him from being in water.

Has five children with three different women.

Father, with Virginie Silla, of three daughters, Talia Besson (b. 1 August 2001), Satine Besson (b. May 2003) and Mao Besson (b. 16 September 2005]

Refuses to do interviews or audio commentaries for DVD releases. This is because he believes that they ruin the impact of the film.