Josep Andreu i Lasserre

Charlie Rivel, in Vienna, Austria, in 1972.

Monument to Charlie Rivel in Montjuïc, CataloniaBarcelona

Josep Andreu i Lasserre (April 23, 1896 – July 26, 1983), best known as Charlie Rivel, was an internationally known Spanish 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 when he was 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. Both respected each other. Legend has that Chaplin later asked him: "Is it you who imitates me or I who imitates you?".

At the start of the Second World War he discovered his definitive routine, featuring a chair, a guitar and a long jersey. He had to stay two years in Nazi Germany; The theater play by Gerard Vàzquez Uuuuh! is based on that time.

In 1954 he returned to Barcelona where he became the star of Circo Price. His routine of the ululating clown is still remembered. In 1971, he appeared in Federico Fellini's film Clowns.

Nowadays in Cubelles a Museum is dedicated to him, the Charlie Rivel Hall

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

External links

Biography portal

• (Catalan) Charlie Rivel
• (Catalan) CharlieRivel.com
• (Catalan) Charlie Rivel Hall
• Josep Andreu i Lasserre at Find a Grave
• Charlie Rivel at Circopedia
• The Andreu-Rivels family ^website

Persondata
Name	Rivel, Charlie
Alternative names
Short description
Date of birth	April 23, 1896
Place of birth
Date of death	July 26, 1983
Place of death