Born in Vlădești, Argeș County, he graduated high school in Câmpulung in 1967 and Bucharest's Caragiale Academy of Theatrical Arts and Cinematography in 1971. He made his theatrical debut a year before graduating, at the Bulandra Theater, in Truman Capote's The Grass Harp. His screen debut came in Dan Pița's Nunta de piatră (1972); he would later appear in the same director's Filip cel Bun (1975). Other directors with whom he has worked include Alexandru Tatos (Mere roșii, 1975; Secvențe, 1982; ...