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| French mime artist Marceau dies | French mime artist Marceau dies |
| (about 2 hours later) | |
| The French mime artist Marcel Marceau has died at the age of 84, his family has announced. | The French mime artist Marcel Marceau has died at the age of 84, his family has announced. |
| The performer was known around the world for his portrayal of a white-faced clown with battered hat. | The performer was known around the world for his portrayal of a white-faced clown with battered hat. |
| Born in Strasbourg in 1923, Marceau studied under mime master Etienne Decroux in Paris. | Born in Strasbourg in 1923, Marceau studied under mime master Etienne Decroux in Paris. |
| His daughter Camille said he died on Saturday evening, adding that details of the burial at Paris's Pere Lachaise cemetery would be given out later. | His daughter Camille said he died on Saturday evening, adding that details of the burial at Paris's Pere Lachaise cemetery would be given out later. |
| Silent films | Silent films |
| Marceau, whose real name was Marcel Mangel, became world famous for his 1947 creation of Bip, the sad, white-faced clown in a striped jumper and a battered silk opera hat. | Marceau, whose real name was Marcel Mangel, became world famous for his 1947 creation of Bip, the sad, white-faced clown in a striped jumper and a battered silk opera hat. |
| Mime artist Corinne Soum-Wasson, who was a friend of Marceau's, told the BBC he was an "extraordinary person". | Mime artist Corinne Soum-Wasson, who was a friend of Marceau's, told the BBC he was an "extraordinary person". |
| "He trained with an extraordinary master, and due to his wonderful witty personality he was able to put that into practice. He was able to captivate people," she said. | "He trained with an extraordinary master, and due to his wonderful witty personality he was able to put that into practice. He was able to captivate people," she said. |
| Bip was Marceau's most famous character | Bip was Marceau's most famous character |
| "I was lucky enough to have known him very well, I was teaching at his school in Paris, and was just a generally funny, nice human being." | |
| Ms Soum-Wasson said Marceau had created Bip early in his career: "He always told me the idea of Bip came to him very early on, when he was a student... he suddenly had the idea in class one day then developed it." | Ms Soum-Wasson said Marceau had created Bip early in his career: "He always told me the idea of Bip came to him very early on, when he was a student... he suddenly had the idea in class one day then developed it." |
| Marceau was credited with single-handedly reviving the art of mime after World War II, after two decades of being eclipsed by the silent movie. | Marceau was credited with single-handedly reviving the art of mime after World War II, after two decades of being eclipsed by the silent movie. |
| Marceau was inspired to become a mime by the great US actors of the silent era such as Charlie Chaplin, Buster Keaton and Harry Langdon. | Marceau was inspired to become a mime by the great US actors of the silent era such as Charlie Chaplin, Buster Keaton and Harry Langdon. |
| His Compagnie Marcel Marceau was the only mime troupe in the world in the 1950s and 1960s - it enjoyed as much acclaim abroad as at home. | His Compagnie Marcel Marceau was the only mime troupe in the world in the 1950s and 1960s - it enjoyed as much acclaim abroad as at home. |
| HAVE YOUR SAY His art transcended time and place. Marcel Marceau spoke for the little man everywhere. Ruth, USA Send us your comments | |
| From 1969 to 1971 he directed the Ecole Internationale de Mime before founding his Ecole Internationale de Mimodrame in Paris in 1978. | From 1969 to 1971 he directed the Ecole Internationale de Mime before founding his Ecole Internationale de Mimodrame in Paris in 1978. |
| He also made several films including Un Jardin Public, and Barbarella, with Jane Fonda. | He also made several films including Un Jardin Public, and Barbarella, with Jane Fonda. |
| In 2001 he was chosen to be a United Nations goodwill ambassador for the older generation. | In 2001 he was chosen to be a United Nations goodwill ambassador for the older generation. |