Lorene Yarnell Jansson
Lorene Yarnell Jansson was an actress and half of the mime-and-dance comedy team Shields and Yarnell.
Movie Actress | Soundtrack
March 21, 1944
July 29, 2023
79
Lorene Yarnell Jansson (1944-2010) was a talented American actress, mime artist, and dancer who gained international fame for her work in the silent art form. She was best known for her partnership with Tom French, performing as the robot characters “Marcel Marceau” and “Bip” in the Marcel Marceau Show. Some of her most well-known performances include roles in “Spaceballs” (1987), “The Wild Wild West Revisited” (1979), and “Bye Bye Birdie” (1963). Jansson also appeared in various television shows such as “The Muppet Show,” “Inherit the Wind,” “The Electric Company,” “The Sonny and Cher Show,” and “The Incredible Hulk.” Her outstanding work in “The Sonny and Cher Show” earned her a Primetime Emmy Award.
In addition to her mime artistry, Jansson was a skilled sculptor who crafted intricate animal sculptures using found objects and other materials. One of her remarkable sculptures, a life-sized bull statue made from recycled materials, was exhibited at the Laguna Beach Festival of Arts.
An interesting aspect of Jansson’s career is that she was part of the mime-and-dance comedy duo Shields and Yarnell, who became a popular presence on television during the 1970s.
