Marcel Marceau
March 22, 1923 – September 22, 2007
Marcel Marceau was arguably the most famous World-War-II-Jewish-Resistance-hero-turned-international-mime-superstar in the history of the world. Top 3, at very least.
Born Marcel Mangel in France along the German border, Marcel’s family fled to central France when the Nazis invaded. He and his brother joined the liberation movement after their father was killed in Auschwitz. With the resistance, they helped rescue many Jewish children from captivity and racial laws at the time. Following the liberation of Paris, Marcel joined the French army for the remainder of the war.
As a young boy, Marcel was introduced to performing when his mother took him to see Charlie Chaplin movies. During his time with the resistance, he dabbled with silent comedy and mime to entertain children being evacuated. When the war ended, he entered college and studied the art of mime officially.
Having adopted the surname Marceau in honor of a French general during the war, Marcel embarked on an entertainment career that spanned more than 60 years. His iconic mime character, Bip the Clown, became one of the most recognizable pop-culture figures of the 20th century. Marceau performed all over the world, appeared on television and in films. He notably and ironically had the only spoken line in Mel Brooks’ 1976 comedy classic, Silent Movie.
As unique and specific as Marceau’s artform was, he still managed to influence artists in all genres including pop superstar, Michael Jackson. He founded several schools for mime and other arts. In addition to single-handedly resurrecting the ancient “art of silence,” Marceau also authored a number of books.
Marcel Marceau died in a retirement home in France at the age of 84.
Burial
Père Lachaise Cemetery – Paris, FRANCE
Specific Location
Division 21; In the middle of this small section just southeast of the chapel. Marcel’s grave is somewhat easy to spot thanks to it’s distinctive white color.
Celebrity Graveland 
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