Marcel Marceau

Comedian

Birthday March 22, 1923

Birth Sign Aries

Birthplace Strasbourg, France

DEATH DATE Sep 22, 2007 (84)

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About

Legendary French mime who raised pantomime into an expressive art form. He is best known for his stage persona as "Bip the Clown" and he was awarded the National Order of Merit in France in 1998. In 1949, he won the Deburau Prize. 

Before Fame

During World War II, he was a member of the French Resistance and saved dozens of children from race laws and concentration camps. He gave his first major performance to 3000 troops after the liberation of Paris in August 1944.

Trivia

In 1959, he established his own pantomime school in Paris, and subsequently set up the Marceau Foundation to promote art in the U.S.

Family Life

He had two sons with his first wife and two daughters with his third wife, Anne Sicco, who he married in 1975.

Associated With

He created the character Bip the Clown, who became his alter ego like "Little Tramp" which became Charlie Chaplin's alter ego.