Raymond Devos (November 9 1922, Mouscron, Belgium - June 15 2006, Saint-Rémy-lès-Chevreuse, Yvelines, France [1]) was a Belgian and French humorist, stand-up comedian and clown. He is best known for his sophisticated puns and surreal humour.
Early life
Devos was born in Mouscron, Belgium close to the French border. Both his parents were French and he moved to Tourcoing, France at the age of two. Seven years later, his family moved to Paris. During the second world war he was sent, like many young men of his generation, to Germany to work. On his return to France, he took acting and mime lessons at the Étienne Ducroux school, where he met Marcel Marceau. In 1948, he was part of a burlesque trio (in the older sense of the word burlesque).
Career
Devos' career took off in the 1950s when he began writing his own one man shows and was the opening act for Maurice Chevalier. Although his act still involved elements of his early years as a clown (such as juggling) he was mostly recognized because of his mastery of the French language. His unique brand of surreal humour and sophisticated puns garnered him much respect throughout the francophone world. He performed for the last time in 1999 in Paris' Olympia Theater.
Nationality
Because he was born in Belgium but spent all but the first two years of his life in France, there is often some confusion about the nationality of Devos. Media reporting his death were in disagreement, with many refering to "Belgian comic Devos"[2][3] and some to "French comic Devos"[4]. Both can be considered correct depending on one's definition of nationality. He was entitled to both passports since he was born in Belgium from French parents but he described himself as an "artiste de variétés Français, né en Belgique" (French showman born in Belgium)[5].
Awards and distinctions
He was awarded the Legion of Honor and the Académie française's Grand Prix du Théâtre. [2]
References
- ^ AFP, Raymond Devos est mort, June 15 2006
- ^ a b BBC News, Belgian comic Raymond Devos dies, June 15, 2006
- ^ "(...)l'humoriste belge Raymond Devos" (English: the Belgian comedian Raymond Devos) in Adieux et éloges à Raymond Devos, TFI, June 15, 2006, retrieved on June 17, 2006
- ^ "Raymond Devos, bien que né à Mouscron (Belgique), en 1922, était de nationalité française." (English: "Raymond Devos, while born in Mouscron (Belgium), in 1922, was French.") in "AFP, Raymond Devos a tiré sa révérence, June 15, 2006
- ^ "Artiste de variétés français, né à Mouscron en 1922 (Belgique)." (English: "French artist, born in Mouscron in 1922 (Belgium)") in sacem.fr, Grand Prix de l'humour : Raymond DEVOS, 2001, retrieved on June 17, 2006