Benno Besson was born on November 4, 1922 in Yverdon-les-Bains, Vaud, Switzerland as René-Benjamin Besson. He was a director and writer, known for Der Arzt wider Willen (1971), Das Stacheltier - Ein deutscher Herr in Paris (1960) and Pauken und Trompeten (1955). He was married to Coline Serreau, Ursula Karusseit and Sabine Thalbach.