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Michael Carl O'Neil - world-class walkaround, busker, entertainer, performer and mime!

 

Last Newspaper Media and Photos!

for  

Michael Carl O'Neil

 

Michael's last year was a busy one across Canada...

it gives comfort to know that he was able to portray

his characters one more time from east to west...

Michael was able to touch base

with Shirley Tooke in Banff, Alberta recently this past summer!

Thank you Shirley for sending this - it was found in his journal.

He had fond memories of first meeting you in 1992

at the Banff Busker Festival!

From EPIC photography

 

One of Michael's last performances in Edmonton!

The Edmonton International Street Performers Festival

Yikes... Michael was one of the ulitimate and spontaneous performers!

That was his trademark when he performed his beloved Charlie!

To see the people laugh and have a good time

was his No. #1 priority!

Private Duckie O'Neil in Edmonton

One of his favourite characters...

Private Duckie O'Neil's Living Statue

meant so much to him....

because of his father and grandfather...

O'Neil history was one of his passions!

(Thank you Cousin Marlene!)

 

Saying good-bye in Edmonton!

It's like Michael (Private Duckie O'Neil's Living Statue)

are saying "Good-bye"!

This is probably the last article to be written about Michael.....

This is an article from the Halifax International Busker's Festival 2007

Performing at The Halifax International Busker Festival was always special to Michael.

He performed there in 1988 with his own version of Charlie Chaplin.

One, including Michael himself, would have never expected that this year's Halifax performance of his

Charlie Chaplin's Canadian Tramp

would be his last ....

MICHAEL WOULD BE TOUCHED TO KNOW THAT

HALIFAX INTERNATIONAL BUSKER FESTIVAL 2008

WILL BE DEDICATED IN HIS MEMORY!

Michael's signature for the Halifax International Busker Festival

It was a great way to end his summer, not just with Charlie Chaplin's Canadian Tramp,

but all of the other characters that he developed throughout the many years

performing throughout the world!

He fulfilled his dream...using his eyes with mime!

Michael’s favorite quote comes from Shakespeare:

"All the world's a stage, and all the men and women merely players. They have their exits and their entrances; and one man in his time plays many parts.
As You Like It, Act 1, Scene

Michael's Charlie Chaplin's Canadian Tramp reaches out...


One of Michael's favourite quotes:

“We left them smiling. Our job is done.”

 

Michael leaving again... despite 911

This is another one of those pictures that popped up...

Luckily, Michael was able to do what he loved in life.

This is a photo of him leaving again for Barcelona, Spain.

This happened right after 9-11 and again, people were leery to travel,

but not Michael.

Here's to you!! God bless!!

 

 

For more photos and memories, please visit:

Feature Photos

and unforgettable...

Favourite Memories

This isn't that recent...however as Michael suffering with epilepsy most of his life,

he was pleased to perform at the Toronto Busker Festival 2006,

showing that just because people have epilepsy,

their lives can be fulfilling.

Shooting down epilepsy myths.

It's actually challenging to sign-off here...

Here is two video pieces (both the same (QuickTime) with different downloading-time involved)

that were found!

Footage of his performances at the

Edmonton International Street Performers Festival 2003.

Video 1

Video 2

Professional Tributes:

Mackenzie Muldoon (posted on October 23, 2007)

I have many, many wonderful memories of Michael, but one sticks out in my mind. It was during a particularly crazy moment at the 2006 Toronto BuskerFest, when we had a TV crew there doing live weather hit during the news, and we had needed to supply them with a constant thread of performers doing little bits. Each hit they wanted something more than the last and by the final hit we had the weather guy surrounded with Marie Antoinette in Statue pose, Pandora Pink juggling cigarette boxes, Truly Odd circling them all on his crazy mini bike. With all this insanity it was Michael, in his Charlie Chaplin character that made me laugh to the point of tears as he stood in with the crowd of spectators, holding a half eaten french baguette, watching the scene in front of him. Every time Truly Odd came towards him, his face would light up with the excitement of a child on Christmas morning, and then just as quickly there would be a look of sheer despair as the bike rode away, only to be replaced just as quickly with pure joy as Truly Odd’s little circle brought him back towards him, and he repeated this over and over again to my pure delight. It was simple, subtle and fabulous. He will be greatly missed.

Danya, Mizener’s Antiques & Flea Market (posted on November 03, 2007)

Bless him !!! He was a wonderful man and performer that will be greatly missed by us !!! Our condolences to his family and friends...

Hands On Entertainment Company (posted on November 06, 2007)

It was a pleasure working with Michael over the years and will be missed by many clients, agents, family and friends. There is a million nice things we can say about this great performer.

Tony Wolfaardt

Celebrations Entertainment Co. (posted on November 07, 2007)

Thanks for the memories, Michael. If anyone could impersonate "Charlie" , it was you ....you were truly an inspiration and will sadly be missed..May God Bless you.


and last, but not least...

This is a sincere tribute...

from a long-time childhood friend of Michael's, who recited it at his funeral service.

It's a poem, and Michael enjoyed poetry as well... I'm sure he would be touched by this...


Michael

SUCH BITTER SWEET IS OUR SORROWS
NO TIME FOR LAST GOODBYES

IN OUR HEARTS IS WHAT TIME BORROWS
NOT ENOUGH MEMORIES BEFORE ONE DIES

TO YOUR FRIENDS

BARB, LIZ AND THE LITTLE BOYS YOU GREW UP WITH EUGENE AND STEVE
TO A WOMAN IN YOUR LIFE NAMED EVE

MOST PEOPLE REALLY DID NOT KNOW YOU UP CLOSE OR FROM AFAR
HOWEVER,WE KNEW YOU - AS OUR CHARLIE - A HAMILTON BORN STAR!

WE WISH YOU WERE STILL HERE MICHAEL - JUST ONE MORE TIME
BUT ALL THE WORLD IS A STAGE AND NOW YOUR GOD`S MIME

YOU BROUGHT US LAUGHS AND TAUGHT US TO FEEL

THIS POEM IS FOR YOU - MICHAEL CARL O`NEIL

WRITTEN BY EUGENE GARREAU
IN MEMORY OR OUR FRIEND MICHAEL

 

(God bless! - Till we meet again!! - Cheers to you!!!)

 

BYE FOR NOW

 

 

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