Antoine Marie Joseph Artaud, better known as Antonin Artaud (born September 4, 1896, in Marseille; died March 4, 1948 in Paris) was a French playwright, poet, actor and director. Antonin is a diminutive form of Antoine (little Anthony), and was among a long list of names which Artaud went by throughout his life.
(1996) The Museum of Modern Art (NYC) had a showing of his drawings and paintings, composed while he was a patient in a mental institution, where he was encouraged to draw and paint as part of his therapy.
Surrealist poet, stage actor, movie writer and movie actor
Antonin Artaud, screenwriter of "La coquille et le clergyman", was enraged with Germaine Dulac, the female director who had made the film. At the première, that took place at the Salle des Ursulines, Artaud and a friend of his began to shout to each other: "Who did this film ?" "Madame Germaine Dulac did !" "And who is madame Dulac ?" "She's a cow !"
French singer Charles Trenet said Artaud was "a permanent suicide".
Artaud and an English actress named lady Albee founded the "Cruelty Thaeter" where their performances allegedly included scenes of blows and violence.
He didn't want any church burial but his family decided to do it against his will. Only actress Maria Casarès and a few other friends tried to oppose.
