Born in Roanne, France. Trained as a painter, he began his film career in 1949 as a production assistant. He was engaged as a gagman and assistant to Jacques Tati on MON ONCLE (1958), then as an actor in Robert Bresson's PICKPOCKET (1959) and Claude de Givray's UNE GROSSE TÊTE (1962). At about the same period, he teamed up with the clown Nino in music hall, cabaret and TV shows. In 1961-62 he co-directed, with Jean-Claude Carrière, two comedy shorts, the second of which, HEUREUX ANNIVERSAIRE, was the winner of an Oscar®. In 1962 he made the first of several piquant feature-length films, the comic style of which derives from the American silent shorts of the 1920s and is particularly inspired by the comedies of Buster Keaton. Étaix starred in all his films as director and collaborated on their scripts with Carrière. His wife, actress Annie Fratellini, appeared with him in his LE GRAND AMOUR (1970). Étaix quit directing in the early 1970s, but could be seen in films occasionally as an actor. After a long absence he reappeared on the screen in MAX MON AMOUR (1986), in the role of a detective.  Short Subjects (Live Action Subjects) 1962: HEUREUX ANNIVERSAIRE - Producer (w. Jean-Claude Carrière) 1 nomination