August 2, 2024 | Sarah Ng

The Mime Who Rescued Children During WWII


The Famous Mime With A Dark Backstory

Though many might recognize Marcel Marceau, the famous French mime artist—few know his harrowing and heroic backstory.

Marceau-Msn

He Changed His Name

Born in Strasbourg, France in 1923, Marcel Marceau came from a Jewish background. His original name was Marcel Mangel, but when Germany invaded France at the beginning of WWII, he changed his last name to "Marceau" so that he could pass as non-Jewish.

Marcel Marceau - 1971Unknown Author, Wikimedia Commons

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His Family Fled For Safety

By changing his surname, 17-year-old Marceau and his terrified family were able to flee to Limoges. Quite fittingly, Marceau and his brother had gotten the idea for "Marceau" from the name of a French Revolution general: François Séverin Marceau-Desgraviers.

But despite their escape, only danger lay ahead.

François Séverin Marceau-DesgraviersFrançois Bouchot, Wikimedia Commons

He Made A Difference

WWII was a horrifying time for the Jewish population, but Marceau was destined to make a difference. When his cousin, Georges Loinger, came to him with a scary opportunity, he accepted.

Marcel Marceau 1946  young portraitStudio Harcourt, Wikimedia Commons

He Joined The Resistance

Georges Loinger was part of a Jewish relief group known as the Oeuvre de Secours aux Enfants (OCE). He commanded a secret unit—and eventually recruited Marceau to the cause.

Jesse Eisenberg as Marcel Marceau in Resistance (2020)Pantaleon Films, Resistance (2020)

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He Had To Save Jewish Children

Marceau had joined the French Jewish Resistance in France—and this came with an overwhelming responsibility. His mission? To rescue Jewish children from the Holocaust and transport them to safety.

Jesse Eisenberg as Marcel Marceau in Resistance (2020)Pantaleon Films, Resistance (2020)

He Was The Right Man

A French orphanage had been hiding Jewish children, and Marceau would be responsible for helping them escape to the Swiss border. It was a daunting task—but Marceau turned out to be the perfect man for the job.

Resistance (2020) movie screenshotPantaleon Films, Resistance (2020)

He Used His Acting Talents

Going on a risky journey with a large number of children could have been disastrous, but Marceau brought one of his singular talents to the table. He knew how to mime.

Jesse Eisenberg as Marcel Marceau in Resistance (2020)Pantaleon Films, Resistance (2020)

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He Put Them At Ease

Marceau's cousin Loinger later shared, “The kids loved Marcel and felt safe with him. He had already begun doing performances in the orphanage, where he had met a mime instructor earlier on. The kids had to appear like they were simply going on vacation to a home near the Swiss border, and Marcel really put them at ease.”

Resistance (2020) movie screenshotPantaleon Films, Resistance (2020)

He Kept Them Quiet

Marceau's acting and miming talents certainly reassured the children, but it was so much more than that. He also used miming to keep the children silent.

Jesse Eisenberg as Marcel Marceau in Resistance (2020)Pantaleon Films, Resistance (2020)

He Mimed For His Life 

The son of one of Marceau's associates later spoke about Marceau's strategies, saying, “It had nothing to do with show business. He was miming for his life.” But that wasn't all.

Jesse Eisenberg as Marcel Marceau in Resistance (2020)Pantaleon Films, Resistance (2020)

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He Donned A Clever Disguise

Marceau cleverly disguised himself as a Boy Scout leader as he guided a group of 24 children, who were also wearing Boy Scout uniforms. He led them through the forests in order to reach Switzerland.

Jesse Eisenberg as Marcel Marceau in Resistance (2020)Pantaleon Films, Resistance (2020)

He Dodged A Dangerous Situation

On another occasion, Marceau had to react quickly when he came face to face with 30 German soldiers. To wiggle his way out of such a sticky situation, he came up with a brilliant plan.

Jesse Eisenberg as Marcel Marceau in Resistance (2020)Pantaleon Films, Resistance (2020)

He Lied To German Soldiers

Marceau fooled the German soldiers by confidently presenting himself as part of the French Army, calling for their surrender. Thankfully, they followed his orders. 

However, when it came to outwitting the enemy, Marceau wasn't the only one to have strokes of genius.

Marcel Marceau at Central StationHarry Pot, Wikimedia Commons

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The Resistance Made Bold Moves

Marceau represented the OCE well, but he wasn't alone. Another member figured out how to hide the children's ID cards. He'd observed that German soldiers were too preoccupied with oil stains to thoroughly check sandwiches made with mayonnaise. 

Therefore, they decided to conceal the ID cards inside the sandwiches.

Marcel Marceaupress photo, Wikimedia Commons

He Saved 70 Children

Marcel Marceau rescued at least 70 children from a devastating end—but that wasn't all he did. 

Jesse Eisenberg as Marcel Marceau in Resistance (2020)Pantaleon Films, Resistance (2020)

He Forged Documents For Them

In order to help Jewish folks escape deportation, Marceau began forging identity documents for them. These documents would allow people to appear much younger than they actually were.

However, despite his many heroic efforts, he didn't escape the war unscathed.

Jesse Eisenberg as Marcel Marceau in Resistance (2020), screenshotPantaleon Films, Resistance (2020)

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He Lost His Father

Tragically, the Gestapo captured Marceau's father and sent him to Auschwitz in 1941. He did not survive. Marceau's cousin Georges Loinger later observed, You see the pain and the sadness in his mime skits. The origin of that pain was his father’s deportation.”

Georges Loinger in suitClaude Truong-Ngoc, CC BY-SA 3.0, Wikimedia Commons

He Still Had Hope

However, Marceau's grief spurred him to do something positive with his life. In 2002, he shared, “I cried for my father, but I also cried for the millions of people who died…Destiny permitted me to live. This is why I have to bring hope to people who struggle in the world.

Marcel Marceau In Dresden 2004Brücke-Osteuropa, Wikimedia Commons

He Became Bip The Clown

When the war came to an end, Marcel Marceau turned the page on a new chapter—one that would catapult him to fame. In 1947, he created his alter ego, Bip the Clown.

Carters With Marcel MarceauWhite House photo, Wikimedia Commons

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An Unforgettable Legacy

Bip the Clown had a classic look, but it was Marceau's unforgettable facial expressions and deep sorrow that struck a chord with his audiences. He performed all over the world for over six decades, sharing what he called the "art of silence."

Marcel Marceau By Annemarie Heinrich, 1954Annemarie Heinrich, Wikimedia Commons


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