Death of Howard Buten, author of “When I Was Five, I Killed Myself” and interpreter of the clown Buffo

The American artist has lived in France since 1981 and died in Finistère at the age of 74. Also a psychologist, he devoted himself to autistic children.

IHe was known for his character “Buffo”, and for his best-seller When I was five I killed myselfpublished in 1981, adapted for cinema and theater. The clown Howard Buten died Friday January 3 at the age of 74. His companion and translator announced it the next day, confirming information from Point. Born in 1950 in Detroit into a family of Lithuanian origin, the American artist suffered from Alzheimer’s disease. He died in his sleep in Plomodiern (Finistère), where he lived.

With his white face, his red nose, his mittens and his long black shoes, the clown Buffo was recognizable among thousands. Under this disguise, Howard Buten always provoked the same emotion and laughter from the public, with silent sketches, little dance tricks, clumsy gestures and bewildered facial expressions. His music hall act already totaled a thousand performances in the 1970s. In 1998, he won a Molière for best one-man show for a show with cellist Claire Oppert. He was made a Knight of Arts and Letters in 1991.

Singer, musician, dancer, ventriloquist, writer, Howard Buten was also a doctor in clinical psychology. Arriving in France in 1981, he devoted himself to autistic children within the Adam Shelton center, which he created in Saint-Denis in 1996. Some of his books address this subject, such as There’s someone in there: autism or These children who do not come from another planet: autistic people. In 2005 he published his last work, autobiographical, entitled Funny. His companion tells AFP that a tribute will be paid to him soon in Paris.