Marcel Marceau is a world famous genre actor. Creativity and personal life of the artist

2024 Author: Leah Sherlock | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-17 05:25

Marcel Marceau (Mangel) is a French mimic actor, the creator of Bip's unfading stage image, which has become a world-famous symbol of France. In 1947, the artist organized the "Commonwe alth of Mimes", which lasted until 1960. The performances of the troupe were in demand in Paris, performances were staged at the best theater venues. The Théâtre des Champs-Elysées and Theatre Sarah Bernhardt sold out when Marcel Marceau and his partners performed. The main character of the actor, the white-faced clown Bip, was especially fond of the Parisians. The "Commonwe alth of Mimes" presented a number of performances, among which were "David and Goliath", "Death at Dawn", "The Overcoat", "Paris Cries, Paris Laughs", "Adolescence and Maturity, Old Age and Death".

Marcel Marceau: biography

The most famous mime in the world was born on March 22, 1923 in Strasbourg. Marcel was the son of a Jewish couple who moved to France from Poland after the end of World War I.

The young man became interested in the art of impersonation when he watched films with Charlie Chaplin. Deciding to becomemimic actor, Marcel Marceau entered the Limoges School of Decorative Arts, then continued his studies at the Sarah Bernard Theater with actor Etienne Decroux and director Charles Dullin.

When World War II began, Marseille fled France with his family. Participation in the Resistance was a real test for the young actor. All his relatives, including his parents, were captured by the Nazis and died in the Auschwitz concentration camp.

During the difficult war years, the actor managed to organize a small artistic brigade that performed at the fronts. After the liberation of Paris in the summer of 1944, the artists gave their first large-scale concert in honor of the end of hostilities and called the performance "Three Thousand Corpses".

A clown with a white face…

As already mentioned, immediately after the war, Marcel Marceau came up with the clown Bip, who became his favorite character. A striped sweater, a shabby hat, a white face with lined eyes - the sad image of a loser clown made millions of people around the world cry and laugh. The role of Marcel Marceau was determined then once and for all.

In 1955-1956, Marcel Marceau made his first tour of the US states. His performances made a real sensation - the artist has forever become a welcome guest for the American public. Touring became a way of life for him, he traveled to different countries and gave 300 performances a year. In 1961, the mime visited the Soviet Union for the first time.

Several times Marcel was invited to star inmovie. He participated in the film project "His Name Was Robert". This film was shot at the Lenfilm studio in 1967. The actor then starred in a 1968 Franco-Italian sci-fi work. The movie was called Barbarella. And finally he played himself in the comedy parody "Silent Movie" directed by Mel Brooks, which was released in 1976. Marcel Marceau, whose films did not make much of a splash, was no longer filmed. He took up other activities.

Two years after the release of the last film, Marcel Marceau organized a pantomime school in Paris, which exists to this day and is considered a memorial.

Awards

During his life, the clown received a lot of them. The French government awarded the artist with several high awards, among which are the following medals:

• Order of the Legion of Honor;
• Order of Merit in Literature and Art;
• National Order of Merit, Second Class.

In addition, the artist had many awards and diplomas.

Famous positions

The famous mime was a member of the Berlin Academy of Fine Arts. He also received an honorary doctorate from the University of Princeton. Then Marceau entered the board of professors of a higher educational institution in the US state of Ohio. He became an honorary professor at the University of Michigan. In 2002, Marcel Marceau was appointed UN Goodwill Ambassador.

One of Marceau's reprises, which he called "Walking against the wind", became the prototype of the famous"Moonwalk" King of Pop Michael Jackson. In 1996, the artist created the American Pantomime Foundation.

Private life

Marcel Marceau was married three times. From his first marriage he has two sons - Michel and Baptiste. The third wife gave birth to the artist's two daughters: Aurelia and Camilla.

Marceau died on September 23, 2007 at the age of 84. Buried in the Père Lachaise Cemetery in Paris.