[1] Born in Côte d'Ivoire, Sy Savané moved to Paris and also worked as a flight attendant for Air Afrique.

Air Afrique secured him a visa for travel to the US, and in 2000, Sy Savané settled in New York, where he studied acting before being cast in Goodbye Solo.

He played his first stage role in 2009 when he appeared in the American premiere of Ian Bruce's South African political crime drama Groundswell, directed by Scott Eliott, at The New Group at Theatre Row in New York.

[2] In 2011, Sy Savané also appeared in the film Machine Gun Preacher starring Gerard Butler, directed by Marc Forster.

[3] Since Machine Gun Preacher, Sy Savané has appeared in numerous roles in television, which includes Master of None, The Detour, Madam Secretary, and Forever.