Philippe Gaulier, mentor to theatre and comedy greats, dies at 82

Master clown Philippe Gaulier, founder of France’s École Philippe Gaulier, has died aged 82. He died on Monday from complications of a lung infection, having had a stroke in 2023. His family said he had “received warm words of encouragement from all over the world” and that “he seemed especially happy to receive letters and messages from his former students.

Teaching was his passion and purpose in life.” Sacha Baron Cohen paid tribute, saying: “If I hadn’t crossed paths with him, I’d probably be doing something terribly sensible. Instead, I chose comedy – entirely because he believed in me, pushed me, and armed me with techniques that still get me into trouble.” Gaulier, who set up the school in 1980 after studying under Jacques Lecoq, taught performers on a first-come, first-served basis without auditions and urged each student to “find your idiot”.

France

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