Click Here to Meet Thom McFadden,
Celebrity Coach To The Stars

Heaven Hi!!!

Let’s have a cup of coffee. Make mine a MIME Delight. Hold the Eulogy.

Out of some of the most talented people on earth, Marcel Marceau is among that list. This last Wednesday in France, Marceau’s body was laid to rest. Marceau’s biography is as interesting as his talent. Some say the journey is more important than the destination, and Marcel Marceau is no exception. As a French Jew, he escaped from the deathly hallows of Auschwitz where his father died. Marcel Marceau inspired many artists including Michael Jackson, who borrowed his famous “moonwalk” from a Marceau sketch, “Walking Against the Wind.” As a prime example of a person being in BOP, his focus was always 100%. He was well aware of his surroundings, and anchored the audience with his enigmatic movements. As Actors For Real, we use the picture exercise, to capture our movements, facial expressions, gestures, stature, and our awareness towards our surroundings. Marceau mastered that through mimicry. He was right on que and took us on a journey into his world as he performed in ours. He will be missed, remembered, and cherished, as a remarkable talented performer.

As a young apprentice actor, I had the great fortune of stage managing Marceau when he was starring in his one man show at UCLA. I was in awe of how he revealed the emotional life and psychology of his “Pip” character through mime. I also found out what a philosophical intellectual he was. One day as I was driving with him he asked me if I was happy with my acting career. I replied, “yes.” He told me, “you shouldn’t be. You should never be totally satisfied and happy with your life until you are dead.” I realized that he meant we are all on this Earth to do the best we can, and there is always room for improvement. So never settle. Strive everyday to be the best you can be. His inspiring words have had an extreme impact on my life, and have caused me to strive everyday to be the best I can be. To be the STAR in my own play in life. He will be missed, but never forgotten.

Be Bop!!!

Thom