One of the great French comedic actors of the Twentieth century, he played more than a hundred roles each in the cinema and on stage. Recognized as the most popular French movie star of the late 1960s, he became known for his extensive repertoire of bold facial expressions. After dropping out of Paris' Lyc 'e Condorcet, he worked as a jazz pianist. He later began his acting career in the theatre, making his film debut in 1945 in La Tentation de Barbizon.
