In 1940, at age 12, he saw John Ford's Western Stagecoach and was inspired to work in cinema.

After graduation, he enrolled in a film and photography technical school, and then joined the Institute for Advanced Cinematographic Studies.

For many years he hosted a television game show of movie trivia, Monsieur Cinéma (in French).

He was also host or presenter for various French talk, variety, quiz and music shows over the years such as La Clé des champs.

He was also caricatured numerous times in the series: His caricature can also be found in the Lucky Luke animated film La Ballade des Dalton (1978), where he is depicted on a picture on the wall, when Luke visits the character Thaddeus Collins.