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Over the years, I feel like I’ve seen Marcel Marceau around a lot. On PBS, in movies (he had the only speaking role in Mel Brooks’ Silent Movie, and also starred in Barbarella), and generally whenever the word mime is accompanied with a photo. Yet, it was only in reading about the 84 year old entertainer’s death last night that I realized what a strange and wonderful life he led. Here are a few snippets pulled from other stories, on things I didn’t know about Marcel Marceau:
1. He cracked weird jokes about magicians. (from salon.com)
“Do not meddle in the affairs of wizards,” Marceau once said, “for you are crunchy and taste good with ketchup.”
2. He had some pretty big fans. (from salon.com)
“To ensure his legacy, Marceau, after gentle prodding from colleagues, agreed to form the Marcel Marceau Foundation for the Advancement of Mime in New York. Foundation board members are an eclectic mix of stars that include Michael Jackson, Placido Domingo, Barbara Hendricks and Dustin Hoffman — all devoted fans.”
3. He’s responsible for the greatest dance move of all-time. (from cnn.com)
“Michael Jackson borrowed his famous “moonwalk” from a Marceau sketch, “Walking Against the Wind.”” According to Wikipedia (which seems to support the cnn quote here), in 1995, the pair were working on a concert for HBO together, but the project fell through.
4. He survived the Holocaust, was active in the French Resistance, saved Jewish children’s lives, and worked with Patton’s army. (cnn)
“With his brother Alain, Marceau became active in the French Resistance. Marceau altered children’s identity cards, changing their birth dates to trick the Germans into thinking they were too young to be deported. Because he spoke English, he was recruited to be a liaison officer with Gen. George S. Patton’s army.”
5. He was famously chatty. (cnn)
“Never get a mime talking. He won’t stop,” he once said.”
6. He was incredibly eloquent. (cnn)
“In 1944, Marceau’s father was sent to Auschwitz, where he died. Later, he reflected on his father’s death: “Yes, I cried for him.” But he also thought of all the others killed: “Among those kids was maybe an Einstein, a Mozart, somebody who (would have) found a cancer drug,” he told reporters in 2000. “That is why we have a great responsibility. Let us love one another.”"
7. He’s won a lot of things. (bbc and wikipedia)
He’s been declared a National Treasure by Japan, received honorary doctorates from Princeton, University of Michigan and Ohio State, won countless grants and awards from the French government, and was chosen as a Goodwill Ambassador by the United Nations (for their Assembly on Aging).
8. And while there’s plenty of reference to his vinyl “Marcel Marceau: Greatest Hits” on the internet…
Kara and I couldn’t find any real evidence of it. Supposedly, it’s 20 minutes of silence on either side followed by clapping. Anyone have a copy of it?
Rest in peace, Marcel.
Comments (11)
Comment
I’m a bit saddened that he’s dead. The man has been one of my heros ever since we learned about him in theater class
posted by Korin on 9-24-2007 at 10:11 am
Sad about the passing of a master.
But for the record – the dragons quotation isn’t his. It’s from the Harvard Lampoon publication parody “Bored with the Rings” published back in the ’60s – a quotation now long since migrated to the land of sig files and otherwise unattributed trivia.
posted by anonymous on 9-24-2007 at 12:47 pm
Somewhere in the midst of my mess I have this album, purchased long ago.
posted by Leslie on 9-24-2007 at 3:01 pm
Do not meddle in the affairs of wizards, for they are subtle and quick to anger. J.R.R. Tolkein
posted by EastchesterJA on 9-24-2007 at 4:01 pm
Near the end of Tootsie, Hoffman pushes over a mime. I wonder if that was Marcel…
posted by Johnny Cat on 9-24-2007 at 4:13 pm
The record album goes like this on the 1st side……………………………………………………………………………………………and on the 2nd……………………………………………………………..clap clap clap Thank You!
posted by John Brown on 9-24-2007 at 5:03 pm
I had the pleasure of being married to a woman who studied with Marcel Marceau. I remember when I first saw Marceau and I found him to be absolutely magical as a stage performer and mime. Marcel Marceau was an artist on the order of Chaplin… and was a man of DEEP artistic wealth. The world has lost a gem… and REAL artist. Marceau was a RARE gift, a special man and a GREAT PERFORMER who entertained the entire world. Long live Bip!!!
posted by Gary Boggess on 9-24-2007 at 6:15 pm
Johnny Cat, you just reminded me of when I originally saw “Tootsie” in the theater… No sooner had he appeared onscreen than I whispered to my friend, “I hate mimes!” Lo and behold, one second later, Dustin Hoffman knocked him down. The two of us laughed harder than anyone else in the theater.
There’s a scene in the movie “FM” where there’s dead air for a minute or two, and Martin Mull saves the day by announcing “You’ve just been listening to the latest track by Marcel Marceau.” I wonder if that has anything to do with the rumor regarding his album…
posted by Kara on 9-25-2007 at 12:22 am
I have seen and heard the Marceau vinyl album.
posted by Geo on 9-25-2007 at 3:39 pm
He was also the only person to speak a line in Mel Brooks’ Silent movie… He said “NO”
posted by robb on 9-25-2007 at 6:58 pm
I studied w/Marceau at Le Mimmodrame in Paris. I had thought he was unaware of my existence. After missing his class because of meeting a man I fell in love with, Marceau saw me in the auditorium waiting for a dramatic arts course. He stopped and tapped me on the shoulder and said, “Mademoiselle, you were not in my class today.” Nervously, I responded that I had been sick and then felt better. “Mademoiselle?”, he responded…”YOU are in LOVE” “No, no, no, Monsieur Marceau”, I pleadingly lied, embarrassed to tell the truth…and repeated…”Really…I was sick.” “Mademoiselle?” he responded for a second time … “YOU are in LOVE!” That is when I knew for sure that he had an incredible sensitivity to read me and I KNEW he could teach me so much. I am sad to here of his passing. The adventure of leaving New York to audition and study with him is a great memory.
posted by nancy miller on 9-25-2007 at 8:40 pm