 A jeweler worker and first prize for tragedy, he began his career at a very young age and aged 16 had his first play "Maître Frontin à Londres" presented at Théâtre de la Gaîté 17 April 1816.He made his actor debut 29 October 1822 at Théâtre de l'Odéon then was hired at Théâtre de l'Ambigu-Comique (1825), at théâtre du Vaudeville (1827–1828), again at l'Ambigu (1828-1829) then at l'Odéon (1830) where he obtained a great success in "La Tour de Nesle" by Alexandre Dumas.Stage director of the Théâtre du Gymnase then of the Théâtre des Variétés (1830-1850), he was general manager of the Théâtre-Français from 1850 to 1873.