Mourners attend Marceau funeral

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Hundreds of mourners have paid tribute to Marcel Marceau at the French mime artist's funeral in Paris.

The performer was buried at the Pere Lachaise cemetery alongside other famous artists such as writer Oscar Wilde and singer Jim Morrison.

The star, who passed away at the age of 84, was known around the world for his portrayal of a white-faced clown.

The floppy top hat with a red flower worn by Marceau's best-known character, Bip, was on a stand next to his coffin.

It was later placed in front of his open grave and the French flag was draped over the casket.

Marceau continued to perform until he was in his 80sA French Jew, Marceau escaped deportation to a Nazi death camp during World War II, unlike his father who died in Auschwitz.

He was credited with single-handedly reviving the art of mime after the war.

Classical music played during the ceremony and the Rabbi read an homage to Marceau - real name Marcel Mangel - noting how he had died on Yom Kippur, the holiest day of the Jewish calendar.

Mime school

The star's Compagnie Marcel Marceau was the only mime troupe in the world in the 1950s and 1960s - enjoying as much acclaim abroad as at home.

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.

In 2001 he was chosen to be a United Nations goodwill ambassador for the older generation.

He died on Saturday, surrounded by his family.