He made over 110 film and TV appearances from 1938 to 1996, with notable excursion into the French avant-garde.

Among his better-known parts was that of Hugo in the first production of Jean-Paul Sartre's Les Mains Sales in 1948.

He was the narrator of the French-language version of Fantasia, and he made several commercial audio recordings (with commentary) popularizing classical music in France.

He had two children with his first wife, Jacqueline Porel: photographer Jean-Marie and journalist Anne-Marie.

[2][3] His remains were interred at Passy Cemetery in Paris next to those of the stage and silent film actress Réjane (1856–1920), who was the grandmother of Périer's first wife.