Charlie Rivel

Charlie Rivel
Charlie Rivel (1943)
Born	Josep Andreu i Lasserre (1896-04-23)April 23, 1896 Cubelles
Died	July 26, 1983(1983-07-26) (aged 87) Sant Pere de Ribes
Occupation	clown

Charlie Rivel, in Vienna, Austria, in 1972.

Josep Andreu i Lasserre (April 23, 1896 – July 26, 1983), best known as Charlie Rivel, was an internationally known Catalan circus clown. He was born in Cubelles (Barcelona, Spain). His parents Pere Andreu Pausas (Spanish) and Marie-Louise Lasarre (French) were circus artists as well.

He debuted at the age of three and formed the group Los Rivels with his brothers Polo Rivel and René Rivel. He took his artistic first name from Charlie Chaplin whom he encountered first in 1910. Each respected the other. Legend has it that Chaplin later asked him: "Is it you who imitate me or I who imitate you?"

He later discovered his definitive routine, featuring a chair, a guitar and a long jersey.

In 1971, he appeared in Federico Fellini's film Clowns.

He performed in the interval act for the Eurovision Song Contest 1973

The Charlie Rivel Hall in Cubelles is a museum dedicated to him,

There is also a park dedicated to him in Vigo in the province of Pontevedra, Spain.

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  Monument to Charlie Rivel in Montjuïc, Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain.
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  Plaque on Charlie Rivel's birthplace house.
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  Charlie Rivel's birthplace house, Cubelles, Catalonia, Spain.