Marcel Marceau laid to rest in invisible coffin.

Famed mime Marcel Marceau, who died last weekend, was laid to rest today in an invisible casket marking the old master's 1,234th and final performance of “Man Trapped in a Box.” During the ceremony pal bearers made up of some of Marceau's many former students carried his perfectly rigid and believably lifeless body through the streets of Paris to Pere Lachaise cemetery.

In the spirit of his revolutionary career Marceau made several seemingly odd choices during the performance, including turning the time-honored mime skit on its head by not repeatedly laying his hands on the transparent walls of his entombing chamber or attempting to escape them. Ultimately such a static approach to this oft-performed whiteface warhorse proved brilliant in the eyes of the audience, who were moved to tears on many occasions by Mr. Marceau's subtle and nuanced performance.

As a somewhat misguided finale, during which gravity failed to cooperate, Mr. Marceau was lowered into the earth with imaginary ropes.