Why did Marcel Marceau change his name?

Marcel Marceau (1923-2007) was a French actor and mime artist, known for his famous character “Bip the Clown.” Marceau was born in Strasbourg, France and grew up in a Jewish family. During World War II, he worked with the French Resistance to help Jewish children escape from Nazi concentration camps.

After the war, Marceau began his career as a mime artist and quickly gained international recognition. He performed all over the world, including in the United States, where he appeared on television shows like “The Ed Sullivan Show” and “The Muppet Show.”

Why did Marcel Marceau change his name?

Marcel Marceau changed his name when he began his career as a mime artist after World War II.

According to Marceau, he chose the stage name “Marceau” as a tribute to his uncle, Charles Marceau, who had been a hero in the French Resistance during the war. Marcel also believed that the name had a certain elegance and charm to it, which he felt suited his artistic persona