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Unfortunately, the story of this Chaplin impersonator has a bittersweet ending. More can be read about his/her amazing life here and here.
When David Lee Parsons died of cancer in a Swiss hospital on September 23 2008, he was only 58 years old. But in his relatively short life, Parsons had ventured across three continents, switched his gender (and his name to Donna), helped popularize the electric ukulele, worked with the Charlie Chaplin Estate in Switzerland as a street performer/mime, given the Beastie Boys their first big push, and sweated through careers as an illustrator, skateboard builder, and magazine publisher.
In South Florida, Parsons was legendary for creating Mouth of the Rat, a handmade fanzine that virtually introduced this part of the country to punk rock.
I am so saddened and crushed in my heart. I have been searching for my past room mate and friend since we lost touch in 1994-95. We were "buskers" together in New Orleans Louisiana in the 80's. I am known as "Monty", The mime of a different color. The last we spoke together, he had just married a sweet girl from France and were moving to Switzerland to start his film making career. Please! If anyone has any info they could give me about Dave or his family, please email me below.
ReplyDeletemontaguewayne@yahoo.com Thank You.