There, he created his iconic stage persona: the jaunty Gallic swain in a tuxedo and straw boater hat, singing songs of love, as well as jazz and ragtime with roguish charm and a touch of risqué humor. Upon his return to civilian life, Chevalier's star resumed its ascent through his celebrated appearances at Le Casino de Paris. ![]() For his service to his country, Chevalier was awarded the Croix du Guerre. While imprisoned, he learned to speak English from British fellow prisoners before he was released in 1916, reportedly through the intervention of King Alfonso XIII of Spain, who was a devoted admirer of Mistinguett. Chevalier was wounded and captured during the first weeks of combat, and spent the next two years as a prisoner of war in Germany. Their collaboration gave his career the boost it needed, but in 1914, he was sent to the frontlines to fight for France in World War I. Chevalier then entered into a similar partnership with Mistinguett, one of the most popular French singers of the early 20th century. Her chronic drug and alcohol addictions forced him to sever ties with her in 1911. In 1909, he teamed with the celebrated but tragic music hall singer Fréhel in a professional relationship that soon blossomed into romance. He began performing in local theater revues, where he developed an ardent following. Chevalier began singing in cafes', where he compensated for his featherweight vocals by adding a touch of wry comedy to his delivery. In 1901, he entered show business with one of his brothers as acrobats, but suffered a serious injury that forced him to pursue less dangerous employment in entertainment. Their father often struggled to find steady work, so Chevalier left school at the age of 11 to help support the family through a wide variety of odd jobs - from carpenter's apprentice and printer to doll painter. 12, 1888, he was the youngest of nine children by his father, a house painter, and his Belgian mother. His death in 1972 marked the end of a charmed life, dedicated to spreading the gospel of love and happiness through a song, a smile and a tip of a hat.īorn Maurice Auguste Chevalier on Sept. Chevalier would go on to essay courtly grandfathers until his retirement in 1968. Allegations of collaborations with the Nazis dogged his career during the 1940s, but he returned more popular than ever in the late 1950s, thanks to "Gigi" (1958), which earned him a special Oscar. Hollywood beckoned in the early 1930s, and he enjoyed a string of musical hits, including "Love Me Tonight" (1932) before returning to France prior to World War II. ![]() Perennially decked out in tuxedo tails and a rakish straw boater, Chevalier crooned love songs in a honeyed Gallic accent that endeared him to theatergoers in the teens and early 1920s before entering silent features. ![]() The epitome of the worldly French song-and-dance man, Maurice Chevalier was one of the 20th century's most beloved entertainers, delighting audiences the world over in a five-decade career that encompassed vaudeville, light opera, motion pictures and concerts.
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