Maurice Chevalier Biography

Fast Facts

• Won the George Eastman Award presented by the George Eastman House for his distinguished contribution to the art of film in 1957
• Worked as a carpenter's apprentice, an electrician, a printer and a doll painter before a member of the theatre saw him singing at a café in his free time and told him he should try out for a musical
• Quote: "An artist carries on throughout his life a mysterious, uninterrupted conversation with his public․"
• A star of musical comedy, he is best remembered for his songs, including "Louise," "Mimi," "Valentine" and "Thank Heaven for Little Girls․"
• Always wore a tuxedo and boater hat when he appeared on stage
• Was a sparring partner for heavyweight boxing champion Georges Carpentier when he was young
• The U․S․ State Department declared him as a potential danger to United States security in 1951, as he had signed the Stockholm Appeal, a petition against nuclear weapons
• Was considered for the role of Willy Wonka in the original 1971 version of "Willy Wonka & the Chocolate Factory․"