Victor Robert Nataf was born to a Tunisian Jew from Sfax and a Catholic mother from Normandy.

Lanoux refers to the name used during his stay in La Chapelle-Taillefert during the French occupation where he lived until the age of 11, when he returned to Paris.

He worked a variety of jobs, including the Simca automotive assembly line, until he served in the French Army during the Algerian War and was wounded, being awarded the Medal for War Wounded (Médaille des blessés de guerre).

They worked together for a number of years, including a season at the Bobino and a tour of Le Gorille.

His best known role outside of Europe is perhaps that of The Thief in the 1985 comedy classic National Lampoon's European Vacation.