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Jean-Baptiste-Gaspard DeburauFrench mime actor
Date of Birth: 31.07.1796
Country:  France |
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Jean-Gaspard Debureau
Jean-Gaspard Debureau was a French actor and mime who is best known for creating the iconic character of Pierrot. He was born on July 31, 1796, in Colombes, France, to a tightrope walker father, Philippe Debureau, and a Czech maid, Katerina Kralova.
Early Life and Career
In 1811, the Debureau family settled in Paris. In 1816, Jean-Gaspard and his brother Franz joined the Théâtre Funambules on Boulevard du Temple. In 1819, he made a great success playing the role of Pierrot in the pantomime "Harlequin, Doctor." He developed the traditions of Commedia dell'Arte in his performances.
Legacy
Debureau was buried in the Père Lachaise Cemetery. His son, Charles Debureau, also became a mime. Chaplin was often compared to Debureau, and his persona was further developed by Marcel Marceau.
Literary and Artistic Depictions
Several books were published about Debureau during his lifetime, including one by Jules Janin (1832). Jules Champfleury later wrote about Debureau and the Théâtre Funambules (1859), seeing Debureau as an example of "popular art" that defied aristocratic norms. Sacha Guitry wrote a play about Debureau in 1918 and later made a film adaptation (1951). In 1938, German director Hans Steinhoff released "Dance on the Volcano" with Gustav Gründgens as Debureau. Frantisek Kozik wrote a biography of Debureau in 1939, which was later translated into English, German, and Dutch. Marcel Carné's film "Children of Paradise" (1945) was based on Debureau's life and starred Jean-Louis Barrault as the mime. Tristan Remy also wrote a biography of Debureau in 1954.
