“But how does he stay so alert at his age? », must ask the spectators who came to applaud Popeck at the Théâtre de Passy, in Paris. “The stage is my breathing, my oxygen,” replies the comedian who presents there, every Sunday, No more laughing! We are closing !his “last lap before retirement”.
“However, you have to know how to surrender,” adds the man who will soon be 89 years old. I’ve seen too many artists push themselves to the limit, so I think it’s better to stop in full glory rather than in full “shit”,” he jokes to the AFP.
A Parisian titi with Jewish humor
With his famous Yiddish accent, his frock coat and his bowler hat, since 1968 Popeck has sketched the daily worries of his character, an eternal complainer inspired by his father, by wonderfully combining Jewish humor with that of a Parisian titi.
After more than half a century of career, this “dean of humor” says he is ready to hang it up: “I’m unhappy to be the age I am, especially since I think I’m better now. But you have to be reasonable and Ashkenazi Jews are pessimistic by nature,” adds Popeck, born Judka Herpstu, admitting in passing that he feels more and more nervous.
“My character invaded me”
His father, a Romanian Jew, emigrated to France before 1914. His mother, Polish, was deported and executed at Auschwitz. Young Judka becomes a cabinetmaker, a courier for a bailiff and a seller of fleece underwear to pay for his theater lessons with René Simon, his “second father”.
“I, who wanted to have a great career as an actor, the character of Popeck – Yiddish nickname for “simpleton” or “charlot” – invaded me. I have always had a sense of humor without realizing it. I was born with it, like a gift. », estimates the man who considers himself to be in “demographic overrun”, with regard to life expectancy for a man of his generation.
” Thank you for everything ! »
The success of his character in valet outfit and white shoes quickly pushed him to abandon the classical repertoire. However, we will find him on the big screen for small roles (under the pseudonym Jean Herbert), notably in the famous The Adventures of Rabbi Jacob (1973) by Gérard Oury or in The pianist by Roman Polanski, on the Shoah.
In the theater, Popeck will perform boulevard plays with Robert Lamoureux, Francis Joffo and, in recent years, Laurent Baffie or Olivier Lejeune. In his latest show, he reprises his cult sketches like Boulogne wood, Dinner at Maxim’sbut also presents new situations and reflections on the passing of time.
Our “Humor” file
Even if he regrets that “the times are not really ones to laugh”, Popeck confides that he sees Gad Elmaleh, Jamel Debbouze and Alex Vizorek as his “worthy successors”. And sends a final message in the form of a very “Popeckian” touch of humor to the public who have followed him for almost 60 years: “Thank you for everything! How much do I owe you ? “.