Curiosidades

Worked as a telegraph operator and messenger to finance his acting studies at the Theatre National Populaire. Came to motion picture prominence as a seductive young criminal in Luis Bunuel's 'Belle de Jour' (1967). Thereafter, was often employed by avant-garde film makers and typecast in intense roles, often as characters with a complex or dark past.

Was arrested in Rome for possession of LSD and cocaine in 1972. He spent 17 months in prison before being acquitted by an appeals court and released. He later authored a book about this chapter of his life.

Father of Balthazar Clémenti.

Two children, Balthazar Clémenti and Valentin Clémenti-Arnoult.

Clémenti was also involved with the French underground film movement, directing several of his own films which often featured fellow underground filmmakers and actors. Visa de censure no X was an experimental work composed of two films. New Old was a feature-length work starring Viva released in 1978. He went on to direct La Révolution ce n'est qu'un début, continuons le combat, In the Shadow of the Blue Rascal and Sun.

He secured his first minor screen roles in Yves Allégret's Jack of Spades ("Chien de pique", 1960), performing alongside Eddie Constantine.

In 1972, Clémenti's career was derailed after he was sentenced to prison for allegedly possessing or using drugs. Due to insufficient evidence, he was released after 17 months; later he wrote a book about his time in prison.

Throughout his career he continued to be active in the theatre.

Born in Paris to an unknown father and Rose Clémenti, a Corsican concierge whose surname he took, Clémenti had a difficult childhood and took refuge in literature and the theatre.

He studied drama and began his acting career in the theatre.

His short film Soleil (1988) presents some of his recollections from the time he was imprisoned in Rome.