Julian Chagrin

Julian Chagrin (born 22 February 1940) is a British-Israeli mime artist, actor, comedian, writer, and director best known for his innovative contributions to physical comedy and short films, including two Academy Award nominations for Best Live Action Short Film.

Born in London to composer Francis Chagrin, a Jewish-Romanian immigrant, and Aline, an Irish teacher, Chagrin was evacuated during World War II and attended boarding school briefly before pursuing entertainment from age 17. He trained in pantomime with Jacques Lecoq in Paris from 1959 to 1962, establishing himself as the first British mime artist through stage performances and television appearances in the UK during the 1960s.

Chagrin's film career began with a notable mime role in Michelangelo Antonioni's Blow-Up (1966), followed by his iconic portrayal of the "secret lemonade drinker" in R. White's Lemonade advertisements in the 1970s. He co-produced and starred in the short comedies The Concert (1974) and The Morning Spider (1976) with his sister Claude Chagrin, earning Oscar nominations as well as first prizes at the Berlin and Cork International Film Festivals.

In 1976, Chagrin immigrated to Israel, where he has since created television series like the award-winning The Orchestra (1985), children's videos, stage shows, and written works including the novel Hoots!. He resides in the Ein Hod Artists' Village with his wife, actress and comedian Rolanda Chagrin, and continues to produce comedic content blending mime and satire.