Acting

Robert François

**Robert François: A Life of Activism and Illusion**

Robert François was born on September 17, 1919, in La Rochelle, Charente-Maritime, where he became involved in the libertarian movement during his teenage years. By the age of 18, he experienced a significant turning point when he underwent sterilization related to the Bartosek affair. While honing his craft as a hairdresser, he also began to forge connections with anarchist groups in his region, playing a pivotal role in organizing numerous conferences at L'Oratoire, engaging with both the Anarchist Federation (FA) and Libre Pensée, as well as contributing to the newspaper *Ce qu’il faut dire*, edited by Louis Louvet and Simone Larcher.

Relocating to Paris, François deepened his commitment to anarchism and transitioned into the world of magic, adopting the stage name Mystag. He became an accomplished illusionist, utilizing his skills to critique charlatans and debunk fraudulent claims of supernatural abilities. In the fall of 1952, he was a key figure at the Philosocial Research Center, facilitating weekly debates aimed at promoting human rights.

François was active in the reconstruction of the Anarchist Federation after its 1953 split and contributed to various libertarian events, including a magic gala that benefited the newspaper *Liberté*, founded by Louis Lecoin. He served as the secretary for external relations of the Union of Anarchists following its establishment in 1979. His legacy includes inspiring the character Corback in Patrick Pecherot's novel *Belleville-Barcelona* and appearing in Agnès Varda's film *Daguerreotypes* (1976). François passed away on August 22, 1988, in Puy-du-Lac, Charente-Maritime, due to a tragic car accident.

Read more