El Hedi ben Salem was born on 4 March 1936 in Redeyef, Gafsa, Tunisia. He was an actor and set decorator, known for Ali: Fear Eats the Soul (1974), The Bitter Tears of Petra von Kant (1972) and Eight Hours Don't Make a Day (1972). He died on 14 March 1976 in Nîmes, Gard, France.