Clown Gaston dies at the age of 72 in Arbon TG
Published: Thursday, Dec 21st 2023, 16:40
Updated At: Thursday, Dec 21st 2023, 16:40
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The long-standing clown Gaston Häni from the Conelli circus died of cancer on Wednesday at the age of 72 in Arbon TG. This was announced by the Zurich Christmas circus on Thursday.
Born in 1951, Gaston and his colleague Roli were an integral part of the Conelli Christmas Circus every winter.
Together with Rolf Knie and the white clown Pipo Sosman, Gaston toured with the Swiss national circus Knie from 1973 to 1977. In 1976, Gaston was invited to the Circus Festival in Monte Carlo for the first time - and was honored by the then Prince Rainier of Monaco.
From 2011, he was engaged with Roli in the Swiss Circus Nock, where he first appeared in 1968 alongside his mother Carola - a gifted clown. Gaston and Roli completed their last Swiss tour with Circus Nock in 2015. In 2017, Clown Gaston received the "Lifetime Achievement Award" at the international circus festival in Val d'Oise-Dumont near Paris.
Also successful on stage
According to his website, Gaston Häni grew up in France and Spain, among other places, and then spent his school years in Zurich and Winterthur. He made his first appearances in the Manage at the age of four. During his career, his numerous engagements also led him to Circus Krone Munich and the Austrian National Circus Louis Knie.
Häni also appeared on many theater stages in Switzerland and abroad. According to his website, he also appeared in various documentaries and television films between 1977 and 1994 and made television appearances in programs such as "Teleboy" and "Verstehen Sie Spass?".
"He was one of the greatest circus clowns of all time", wrote Circus Conelli in its press release on the death of Gaston Häni. Despite his serious illness with cancer, he never lost his kindness and the mischief in his eyes.
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