Pierre Etaix built his career principally around comedy. In 1954, he moved from his native Roanne to Paris where he would make a living as an illustrator and eventually as a solo performer in cabaret and variety venues. He would also work as a circus clown in partnership with Nino Fabbri.

In 1954, he met Jacques Tati for whom he worked for 4 years as a draughtsman and gagman in the preparation ansd shooting of Tati's film, My Uncle, and as an assistant-director during the shooting, also playing a small, uncredited role in that film. In 1961, he performed his own “number” in Tati's music-hall production. Jour de Fête à I'Olympia.

In 1961, he became a filmmaker, realising two shorts - Rupture (FIPRESCI prize in Mannheim 1961) and Happy Birthday (Oscar in Hollywood 1962) - both co-written with Jean-Claude Carrière. Between 1962 and 1970, he realised five features: The Suitor (Prix LOUIS DELLUC 1963; the Comic Film Prize of the Moscow International Film Festival, 1963), Yoyo (Grand Prize - OCIC International Festival in Venice 1965), So Long as You're Healthy (Silver Siren at the International Festival of Sorrento), The Great Love (Grand Prize of French Cinema 1969) and The Land of Milk & Honey(Pays de cocagne, 1970).

In 1971, following the release of his fifth feature, he resumed work as a clown, touting France with the Pinder Circus for approximately eight months.

In 1973, he wrote and acted in the stage show Whatever the Role (A quoi en joue) at the Théâtre Hébertot, winning the Society of Authors Award. The production then toured the provinces. By that time he had decided, with his wife Annie Fratellini, to found the first National Circus School in France. They also produced their own duo clown routines.

He is the author of many books including Hatbox, Dactylographismes, Stars System and Sketches of Jerry Lewis. In 1985, he signed his first play for the “legitimate” theatre: L 'Age de Monsieur est avancé(The Gentleman is getting on), which he adapted for television in 1987, co-starring in that version (title role) with Nicole Calfan and Jean Carmet.

In 1989, he directed the first ever fiction film made in the Omnimax format: I Write in Space. More recently, he collaborated in the DVD release of the complete collection of film shorts by Buster Keaton -  namely, "The Art of Buster Keaton'. His most recent books include: The Men from ...,, Let's Criticise the Camera,  You Must Call a Clown a Clown, Karabistouilles, and The Clown and the Scientist with mathematician Claude de Calan.

- Prix FIPRESCI à Mannheim 1961.
- Grand Prix du Festival Oberhausen 1961.

- Grand Prix du Festival Oberhausen 1962.
- Prix Simone Dubreuilh à Mannheim 1962.
- OSCAR du meilleur court-métrage Hollywood 63.
- Meilleur Film de court-métrage au British Film Academy de Londres 1963. 
- Mention spéciale à la Semaine Internationale des Films à Vienne1963.

- Prix LOUIS DELLUC 1963.
- Prix du Film Comique Moscou 1963.
- Grand Prix du Festival International d’Acapulco 1963.

- Sélection Française Cannes 1965.
- Grand Prix de la Jeunesse Cannes 1965.
- Grand Prix OCIC Festival International de Venise 1965.

- Sirène d'argent au Festival International de Sorrente.
- Concha d'argent au Festival International de San Sebastian.

Pickpocket de R. Bresson (1959),
Le Voleur de Louis Malle (1967), I Clowns de F. Fellini (1970),
Sérieux Comme le Plaisir de Robert Benayoun (1975),
Max mon Amour de Nagisa Oshima (1986),
Nuit docile de Guy Gilles (1987),
Henri and June de P. Kaufman (1990)

L’étrange cas du Docteur Lern, Les idiots, La métamorphose, Bouvard et Pécuchet de Jean Daniel Verhaeghe.