Born 1930 in Piolenc in south France as son of a wealthy industrialist.
Studied law in Aix-en-Provence. Started theatrical acting in 1950, but
was regarded untalented at first, until Roger Vadim discovered him for the
movies. When the press stalked him 1956 because of rumors of an affair
with Brigitte Bardot his partner in ... und immer lockt das Weib (1956), he fled into the army. Ten years
later he had his first big success with Ein Mann und eine Frau (1966). Since then he has
starred in more than 100 movies, with a special talent for the dark
characters like murderers or jealous husbands. In his late career he preferred theater
to movies.
