A Tribute to MARCEL MARCEAU

 Marcel Marceau was born in Strasbourg, France, March, 1922.  From childhood he loved the art of mime and was inspired by silent screen stars such as Charlie Chaplin, Buster Keaton, Harry Langdon, Harold Lloyd, and Laurel & Hardy. In 1944 he enrolled in Charles Dullin's School of Dramatic Art in the Sarah Bernhardt Theatre in Paris, where he studied with his mime master Etienne Decroux, who also taught Jean-Louis Barrault.

At the Liberation of Paris, he enrolled in the First French Army and participated in the German campaign, side by side with the American GI's. After the demobilization in May 1946, Marcel entered Barrault's Company and was cast in the role of Arlequin in the pantomime Baptiste which Barrault himself had interpreted in the world famous film Les Enfants du Paradis.

In 1947, Marcel created his character, "Bip", who has become his alter-ego like Chaplin's "Little Tramp". Bip's adventures are likened to Don Quixote's struggle against the windmills of life.

Marcel continued to work with Decroux until 1948 and, that year, his Compagnie de mime Marcel Marceau - the only company of pantomime in the world at that time.  He played in the leading Paris theatres as well as other playhouses in Europe, Canada and South America. With his company, he has produced, directed and played 26 mimodramas, including 'Pierrot de Montmartre,' 'The 3 Wigs,' 'The Pawn Shop,' '4th July,' 'The Wolf of Tsu-Ku-Mi,' 'Paris laughs - Paris cries,' and 'Don Juan' (adapted from Tirso de Molina). More recently, the company has offered 'The Overcoat' and 'The Bowler Hat' in Europe, Asia, and the Americas.
Marcel Marceau first toured in the United States in 1955-56 to overwhelming acclaim, ending with a record-breaking return to New York's City Center in the spring of 1956. With his international renown established, his subsequent tours included numerous countries and every continent in the world. He continued to average over 200 performances per year worldwide. When not touring, Marceau taught in his accredited international school of mime in Paris.
Mr. Marceau appeared on international television, especially in America and received two Emmys for his appearances on 'The Maurice Chevalier Show' and 'Laugh In.' He appeared on BBC as 17 different characters in 'A Christmas Carol' in 1973, and in 13 short films produced by Encyclopedia Britannica including Bip and the style pantomimes.

Marcel Marceau also demonstrated his versatility in motion pictures such as 'Barbarella' with Jane Fonda, directed by Roger Vadim; Shanks, directed by Bill Castle, in which he combined his silent art playing a deaf mute puppeteer and a speaking mad scientist. In Mel Brook's 'Silent Movie,' he said the only word in the film,"Non!"
Publications of Marceau's paintings, poetry and illustrations include 'La Ballade de Paris et du Monde' 'Les Réveries de Bip,' 'The Story of Bip' (Harpers and Row), Pimporello (Belfond Paris), The Third Eye (Paris Lithoprint). Children have been delighted by 'The Alphabet Book' and 'Marcel Marceau's Counting Hat Book,' and are enjoying the 'Bip in a Book' (Stewart, Tabori & Chang).

The French Government conferred upon Mr. Marceau its highest honours: Officier de la Légion d'Honneur, Commandeur des Arts et Lettres, and Grand Officier de l'Ordre National du Mérite. He was an elected member of the Academy of Fine Arts in Berlin, the Academy of Fine Arts in Munich, and a member of the prestigious Institut de France. Mr. Marceau has honorary doctorates from Princeton University, Ohio State University, Linfield College, and the University of Michigan at Ann Arbor.
Mr. Marceau has accepted the honour and responsibilities of serving as Goodwill Ambassador for the United Nations Second World Assembly on Ageing, which took place in Madrid, Spain in April, 2002, at which Mr. Marceau appeared. His 11 week tour included performances in over 24 cities including a return to Australia and New Zealand, after a 10-year absence, an American tour, and his first appearances on the Hawaiian Islands.
Information on Marcel Marceau and his activities is made available by the New York-based nonprofit organization, The Marcel Marceau Foundation for the Advancement of the Art of Mime, Inc. at www.marceau.org