He had his first big role in
Fons Rademakers's
Mira (1971). Since then, he has appeared in countless Flemish and Dutch films and TV productions. In the world of theater he gained his fame by acting at the International New Scene for the play
Mistero Buffo by Dario Fo. To the larger audiences of television he became known through his role of
Sil de strandjutter in 1976 in the equally named TV series. He starred in
Academy Award winning movies including
Karakter by Mike van Diem and
Antonia and the Oscar-nominated social drama
Daens. More recently he turned down roles in
Stanley Kubrick's
Eyes Wide Shut (due to commitments to other projects) and the James Bond film
The World Is Not Enough. Decleir was also Belgium's national performer of
Sinterklaas from 1993 until 2019. In 2003 he had the starring role in the critically acclaimed thriller
The Memory of a Killer (The Alzheimer Case) of which the leading American critic
Roger Ebert wrote in his review:
"Jan Decleir never goes for the easy effect, never pushes too hard, is a rock-solid occupant of his character. Everything he has to say is embodied, not expressed. Talks are underway for a Hollywood remake, but this performance will not be easily equaled. Gene Hackman, maybe. Morgan Freeman. Robert Mitchum, if he were alive. Decleir is the real thing." For several years he also led the Studio Herman Teirlinck where he brought in many new teachers: actors from various theater companies (e.g., de Blauwe Maandag Compagnie, STAN, etc.). ==Personal life==