Early in life he had several jobs: he was a teacher, designer of candy boxes, bank employee, painter and journalist.
He was a member of a 13-member panel that chose "Dors, mon amour" as the French Eurovision entry in 1958, where it finished first out of 10.
Lanoux wrote in many genres: the novel, non-fiction, chronicles, drama, poetry (Apollinaire 1953 Chapman prize).
In 1963, he earned accolades in winning the Prix Goncourt for his novel Quand la mer se retire (When the tide goes out).
In 1980, Lanoux adapted Balzac's novel La Peau de chagrin for television, directed by Michel Favart.