He served in World War I, and was decorated with the Croix de Guerre and the Legion of Honour.

His most lasting fame stems from his work in the films of René Clair that transition from the silent to the sound eras.

In March 1942, he joined a group of actors who at the invitation of the Germans visited film studios in Berlin.

This was alongside French actors and actresses such as René Dary, Astor Junie, Viviane Romance, Suzy Delair and Danielle Darrieux.

He recollected his memories in a book published in 1979 with the help of his son, voice actor Patrick Préjean.