Michel Auclair, a renowned actor of Serbian and French heritage, was born Vladimir Vujović on September 14, 1922. His father, Vojislav Vujović, was a prominent Yugoslav Communist and secretary of the Communist Youth International, hailing from Požarevac, Serbia. Auclair's mother was French, and he was born in Koblenz. At the tender age of three, he relocated to Paris, where he would later establish himself as a prominent figure in French cinema.
Auclair's academic pursuits took an unexpected turn when he initially enrolled in medical school, only to switch to acting at the renowned CNSAD in Paris. This marked the beginning of his illustrious career, which would see him become a major French star.
Despite his widespread recognition in France, Auclair's international filmography is somewhat limited, with only two English-language roles to his name. One of these notable performances was as Professor Flostre in the 1957 musical comedy, Funny Face, alongside Audrey Hepburn and Fred Astaire. In his other English-language role, Auclair portrayed a French police investigator in the 1973 thriller, Day of the Jackal, starring alongside Edward Fox.
