[1] The grandnephew of composer Florent Schmitt and the son of Comte Joel de Kerver, Despax began piano lessons at age four and was given a guitar by his parents on his twelfth birthday.
[3] After military service in the Algerian War he formed a rock group called Olivier Despax and the Gamblers and was signed by Barclay Records.
During a gig at Saint-Tropez, he met Brigitte Bardot who he taught how to play the guitar.
[4] The publicity led to a film career in France beginning in 1964 with Mort, où est ta victoire?.
He made his English language debut in Dark of the Sun (1968).