He studied at the Conservatoire national supérieur d'art dramatique in Paris from 1970–73 and has had many roles and cameo parts in film and TV over more than 30 years, mostly in France.
Bonnet made a guest appearance on Highlander: The Series as Cavalry Captain in an episode titled Unholy Alliance: Part 2 and also the French foreign subtitled film Les Fautes d'orthographe. He also appeared in Thomas the Falconer alongside actors and actresses like Brano Holicek, Juraj Kukura, Jiri Langmajer and Jaroslav Zvasta.
A direct descendant of the photographic pioneer Nicéphore Niépce, Manuel Bonnet was the co-writer, with Jean-Louis Marignier of the book “Niépce, correspondance et papiers”, published by Maison Nicéphore Niépce in 2003, and the initiator of the celebrations in 2007 of the bicentennial of the invention of the Pyreolophore, an early internal combustion engine designed by the Niépce brothers.
In the course of research made by the Swedish filmmaker Vilgot Sjöman on Alfred Nobel, the study by Manuel Bonnet of Nobel’s French associate, Paul Barbe, found recognition through the creation of files bearing his name in the archives of the Nobel institute in Stockholm.
He has also contributed to the book by Max Lavigne entitled : "Chantecoq, De la Cité Royale à la Commune républicaine" in 1996.
Theatre
Dix Petits Negres. Directed By Jacqueline Bœuf
Le Temps des Gitans. Directed By Emir Kusturica (Opéra De Paris)
Amadeus. Directed by Stéphane Hillel
Entrez sans Frapper. Directed By Raymond Acquaviva
La Boutique au Coin De La Rue. Directed By Jean-Jacques Zilbermann
Grison Iv. Directed By G. Savoisien
Cinema Parlant. Directed By Daniel Colas
Drôle de Gouter. Directed By Gérard Maro
Romeo et Juliette. Directed By Jean-Paul Lucet
Britannicus. Directed By Simone Beaudoin
Andromaque. Directed By Pierre Santini
Les Temps Difficiles. Directed By Pierre Dux
Lenine. Directed By Claude Vermorel
Les Fourberies de Scapin. Directed by Pierre Boutron
Trio Pour Deux Canaris. Directed by François Duval
La Comedie Humaine. Directed By Paul-Emile Deiber
L'aiglon. Directed By Jean-Laurent Cochet
Television
L’école Du Pouvoir. Director - Raoul Peck
Memento. Director - Patrick Poubel
Les Intouchables. Director - Benoît D’aubert
La Vie Devant Nous, Cinq Ans Apres. Director - Laura Muscardin
Vrai Comme Un Reve. Director - Christophe Otzenberger
Les Enfants D'orion. Director - Philippe Venault
Voici Venir L'orage. Director - Nina Companeez
Securite Interieure. Director - Patrick Grandperret
Max Jacob. Director - Gabriel Aghion
Ris - Police Scientifique (Dépendances). Director - Klaus Biderman
La Vallee. Director - Raoul Peck
Commissaire Valence. Director - Denis Amar
Plus Belle La Vie. Director - Jean-Pierre Igoux.
Le Proces De Bobigny. Director - François Luciani.
Denonciation Calomnieuse. Director - Dominique Ladoge
Jusqu’au Bout. Director - Maurice Failevic
Les Bourreaux De L'ombre (Navarro). Director - Jean Sagols
Biarritz. Director - Olivier Guignard
Les Perles Du Pacifique. Director - G. Bannier / T. Guerrier / Didier Delaitre
Les Filles De Vincennes. Director - Thierry Binisti
Ciel D’orage. Director - Paolo Barzman
Factures Sociales (Les Bœufs Carottes). Director - Gérard Cuq
La Nouvelle Tribu. Director - Roger Vadim
Mon Pere Avait Raison. Director - Roger Vadim
Flairs Ennemis. Director - Robin Davis
Les Alsaciens. Director - Michel Favart
Tabou. Director - Alain Robak
Cas De Divorce. Director - G. Espinasse / A. Lombardi
Tango. Director - Jacques Payette
Chasseurs De Loups. Director - Didier Albert
Highlander: The Series - Unholy Alliance 2. Director - P. Ellis
Christmas Carol (1984) – Director – Francis Junek
Seconde B. Director - Christiane Spiero
La Devoyee. Director - Jacques Audoir
Repetition D’un Meurtre. Director - Jacques Audoir
Pas De Noel Pour Sarah-Lou. Director - Geneviève Strina
L'or Et Le Papier. Director - Nino Monti
La Patrie En Danger. Director - J.D. De La Rochefoucauld