Francois Arnaud

François Arnaud was born on July 5, 1985, in Montreal, Quebec, Canada. His initial exposure to theatre, specifically a performance of “Cyrano de Bergerac” at age nine, sparked his interest in acting. He pursued formal training at the Conservatoire d’art dramatique de Montréal after graduating with an arts degree from Collège Jean-de-Brébeuf. Arnaud began his professional acting career in Quebec, securing a role in the French Canadian comedy series “Taxi 0-22” in 2008. The following year, he gained significant recognition for his portrayal of Antonin Rimbaud in Xavier Dolan’s critically acclaimed film “I Killed My Mother” (2009). This role earned him a VFCC Award for Best Supporting Actor in a Canadian Film and was instrumental in securing his representation in Hollywood, leading to auditions for larger international projects.

His career advanced significantly with his role as Cesare Borgia in the Showtime period drama series “The Borgias,” which aired from 2011 to 2013. This role brought him wider international recognition and a nomination for a Canadian Screen Award for Best Actor in a Continuing Leading Dramatic Role. Following “The Borgias,” Arnaud continued to take on diverse roles in American television, including Oscar in NBC’s “Blindspot” (2015–2016, 2020) and Manfred Bernardo, a troubled psychic, in the NBC supernatural drama “Midnight, Texas” (2017–2018). His film work during this period included “Origami” (2017), a French-Canadian production filmed in his hometown of Montreal, and “Permission” (2017).

In recent years, Arnaud has appeared in various projects that showcase his range. He played Sebastien Raine, David’s ex-boyfriend, in an episode of the acclaimed series “Schitt’s Creek” (2017) and starred as Dan Moody in “The Moodys” from 2019 to 2021. In 2025, he garnered renewed attention for his lead role as Scott Hunter in the Canadian sports romance series “Heated Rivalry,” a performance that received critical praise and led to significant fan engagement. That same year, he also appeared in the films “Fucktoys,” which premiered at South by Southwest, and “Twinless,” which debuted atundance. Looking ahead, Arnaud has been cast in the upcoming Hulu limited series “Count My Lies” and is slated to appear in a 2027 Broadway revival of “Three Days of Rain.”