He achieved particular acclaim in Dhéry's Jupon Volé (1954) and La Plume de Ma Tante (1955); the latter of which served as an international vehicle for him with productions in Paris, London's West End (1955-1958), and in New York City on Broadway (1958-1960).
A friend of French director and writer Jean Renoir, he appeared in stage, television, and film works written and directed by him.
Born Pierre-Olaf Trivier in Caudéran in the Gironde department of Bordeaux, he began his professional acting career on the stage in his late teens.
[2] Other French films he appeared in during his early career included Miquette et sa mère (1950),[3] Trois femmes (1952),[4] Soyez les bienvenus (1953),[5] Mam'zelle Nitouche (1954),[6] and Ah !
[9] Of Dhéry musical reviews, the most highly regarded on the international stage was La Plume de Ma Tante; which was adapted for the West End's Garrick Theatre from its original French language Paris production by English songwriter Ross Parker.
[16] A review in Billboard magazine stated the following about his performance: "The real showman of the group is Pierre Olaf, the great French clown from 'La Plume de Ma Tante'.
He portrayed roles in multiple television miniseries, including Lace (1984, as Serge),[25] The Free Frenchman (1989, Georges Auget), and Around the World in 80 Days (1989, as Captain Rondicherry).
[26] His film roles include Jacquot in Wild and Wonderful (1964),[27][28] Inspector Carnot in The Art of Love (1965),[29] Petros in Too Many Thieves (1967),[30] Dap in Camelot (1967),[31] Chef in Don't Drink the Water (1969),[32] Cozzier in The Gamblers (1970),[33][34][35] Lacoste in Irish Whiskey Rebellion (1972),[36] a Courtier in Cheech & Chong's The Corsican Brothers (1984),[37] and the priest in American Dreamer (1984).
[40] That production co-starred Cyril Ritchard, and it transferred to the Starlight Theatre in Kansas City, Missouri after its Saint Louis run the following August.
[41] In between those production, Olaf starred in Frank Lowe's stage adaptation of James Thurber's The 13 Clocks at the Barter Theatre in Abingdon, Virginia in July 1962.
[44][45][46][47] In 1965 he starred as Raphael Bonnardon in the world premiere of Jean-Pierre Aumont's Madame Mousse with Molly Picon in the title role at the Westport Country Playhouse.
[48] In 1964, Olaf reunited with Robert Dhéry to make the film Allez France!, which screened in the United States two years later with the English language title The Counterfeit Constable.