MARCEAU, MARCEL

born March 22, 1923, Strasbourg, Fr. French mime of the 20th century whose silent portrayals are executed with eloquence, deceptive simplicity, and balletlike grace. His most celebrated characterization is Bip, a character half-Pierrot, half-Charlie Chaplin's tramp, first presented in 1947. Marceau served in the French army and in the Resistance during World War II, after which he studied at the School of Dramatic Art of the Sarah Bernhardt Theatre, Paris, and with pantomimist tienne Decroux. After his first success, the role of Arlequin in Baptiste, a pantomime, he concentrated completely on pantomime and formed a mime troupe. Worldwide acclaim came in the 1950s with his production of a mimodrama of Gogol's Overcoat and with successful personal appearances. Thereafter he toured internationally.