The clown Howard Buten, known for his character "Buffo", and author of a dozen books including "When I was five, I shut up", died Friday at the age of 74, we learned Saturday from his partner and translator, confirming information from Le Point.
Born in Detroit, United States in 1950, the American artist, who suffered from Alzheimer's disease, died "peacefully in his sleep" in Plomodiern (Finistere), where he lived, Jacqueline Huet, who translated some of his books, told AFP.
With his white face, red nose, mittens and long black shoes, the clown Buffo was recognizable among thousands.
Under this disguise, Howard Buten always provoked the same tenderness and laughter from the audience, with silent sketches, little dance turns, clumsy gestures and bewildered facial expressions.
It was in his country that this lunar character, who was also a dancer, singer and musician, had shaped himself, during a music hall number that grew over time. In the 1970s, he had already performed a thousand times.
Buffo had with him his musical instruments (violin, piano, trumpet), his vindictive plastic chicken, his recalcitrant household utensils. He was even a ventriloquist for a time.
Howard Buten, from a Lithuanian family who had emigrated to the United States, settled in France in 1981 after the release of his first book, "Burt" in English, translated and published in French under the title "Quand j'avais cinq ans, je m'ai tue", which was a bestseller.
The artist is much more than that: in 1986 he became a doctor in clinical psychology and devoted himself to autistic children in Saint-Denis (Seine-Saint-Denis) in the Adam Shelton Center which he created in 1996.
Among his other books, some also address this subject, such as "There is someone in there: autism" or "These children who do not come from another planet: autistic people".
His last book, “Buffo” (2005), is autobiographical.
In 1998, he won a Moliere for best one-man show for a performance with cellist Claire Oppert. He was made a Chevalier des Arts et des Lettres in 1991.
"A tribute will be paid to him later in Paris," his partner told AFP.
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