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.

His father, Francis Chagrin (born Alexander Paucker in Bucharest, Romania, in 1905 to Jewish parents), was a composer and conductor who emigrated to England in 1936 after studying music in Paris. Francis established a notable career in Britain, composing over 200 film scores—including for titles such as An Inspector Calls (1954) and The Colditz Story (1955)—and serving as music director for the BBC Overseas Service during World War II. He also founded the Committee for the Promotion of New Music in 1943, which later became the Society for the Promotion of New Music, to champion contemporary British composers. This professional background in the arts created an environment that sparked Julian's early exposure to music and performance.