Maurice Chevalier (1888-1972)
Maurice Chevalier, French singer, actor, writer and lyricist, was born on 12 September 1888 in Paris and made his debut at Ménilmontant. In the 1930s, he was a music hall artist before embarking on an acting career that eventually took him to Hollywood. His hat and bow tie, thick accent and Parisian banter contributed to his fame on the international scene. He was the star of the great "Prosper (Yop La Boum)" and "Dans la vie faut pas s'en faire", as well as of "The Aristocats" for the animated film of Walt Disney, all great successes of their time. In October 1968, he performed on stage at the Théâtre des Champs-Elysées to complete his farewell tour, known as the "80 embankments tour". The king of music hall took his final bow on 1 January 1972.