Much-loved in Europe but little-known in the United States, iconoclastic Roland Topor utilized different media in which to share his absurdist and often disturbing view of the world. An illustrator, graphic designer, author, playwright, filmmaker, song writer, actor, and creator of innovative television programming, he was at his best when upsetting life's apple cart. As an illustrator/graphic artist, Topor was responsible for the odd visual style of the Czech/French animated sci-fi feature LA PLANETE SAUVAGE (Fantastic Planet) (1973), which won the Prix Special at Cannes that year and has since become a cult favorite. As an author, he was known for combining surrealism with black humor. Roman Polanski's THE TENANT (1976) is based on Topor's LE LOCATAIRE CHIMERIQUE. Topor the playwright's productions were like his stories and incorporated plenty of dark absurdism. Occasionally, as with the play UBU ROI, he would design the sets and costumes too. As a songwriter, Topor provided tunes for Jerome Savary's Grand Magic Circus. He was also respected as a popular and prolific painter who created hundreds of works. During the 1960s, he involved himself with Panique, a group involved with Dadaism. Other group members included Fernando Arrabal and fellow cult figure Alejandro Jodorowsky. On April 16, 1997, the 59-year-old avant garde artist died in a coma.
