Dimitri, Swiss clown, Died at 80

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Dimitri was born on September 18, 1935, in Ascona, Switzerland, and died on July 19, 2016.

His birthname is Dimitri Jakob Müller.

He was a well-known Swiss clown and mime.

He changed his name and his official name became Jakob Dimitri.

When he was only seven years old, Muller decided he wanted to become a clown.

Following graduating from school, he became an apprentice potter while studying music and theater.

Jakob went to Paris to study under Etienne Decroux, then Marcel Marceau.

During 1959, Dimitri was hired as an Auguste by Louise Maisse, a whiteface clown.

Dimitri then decided created his own solo mime act which was received with much acclaim during the 1962 International Mime Festival in Berlin.

During 1971, he founded with his wife Gunda a theater.

During 1975, Jakob founded the Scuola Teatro Dimitri in Verscio.

Which is a small performing arts college in the Swiss national higher education system.

During 1973, he was awarded the Grock prize, and appeared with New York’s Big Apple Circus.

Dimitri has also performed in many other countries across the globe.

Jakob Dimitri was inducted into the International Clown Hall of Fame in 1995.

Jakob Dimitri passed away at 80 years old.