Philippe Gaulier

Philippe Gaulier (French pronunciation: [filip golje]; 4 March 1943 – 9 February 2026) was a French professor of theatre, dramatic theorist, pedagogue, and master clown. He was the founder of École Philippe Gaulier, a French theatre school in Étampes, outside Paris. After studying under Jean Vilar and Alain Cuny at Théâtre National Populaire and then under Jacques Lecoq, Gaulier was an instructor at L'École Internationale de Théâtre Jacques Lecoq. Known for his "legendarily terrifying teaching style", he published The Tormentor (Le Gégèneur), a book discussing his thoughts on the theatre and containing exercises designed to develop an actor's skill. Gaulier had a significant influence on British theatre, where his teaching inspired the creation of numerous theatre companies including the Théâtre de Complicité, as well as theatre companies throughout Europe, Asia, Australia, and New Zealand. Gaulier was known for performing in both clown and bouffon comic genres, in addition to his work as a playwright and director.

Emma Thompson, Sacha Baron Cohen, Helena Bonham Carter, Roberto Benigni, Rachel Weisz, Simon McBurney, Geoffrey Rush, Kathryn Hunter, Yolande Moreau, Viggo Venn, Anthony Wong, and Mathew Baynton numbered among his students. Baron Cohen has particularly praised him for "help[ing him] understand how to be funny", and called Gaulier "the greatest living teacher of clown and modern theatre, and the funniest man I have ever met."