El Hedi ben Salem was born on 4 March 1936 in Redeyef, Gafsa, Tunisia. He was an actor and set decorator, known for Ali: Korku Ruhu Kemirir (1974), Die bitteren Tränen der Petra von Kant (1972) and Acht Stunden sind kein Tag (1972). He died on 14 March 1976 in Nîmes, Gard, France.