In 1949, following his receipt of the Deburau Prize (established as a memorial to the 19th-century mime master Jean-Gaspard Deburau) for his second mimodrama, Death before Dawn, Marceau founded Compagnie de Mime Marcel Marceau, the only company of pantomime in the world at the time. The ensemble played the leading Paris theatres, such as Le Théâtre des Champs-Élysées, Le Théâtre de la Renaissance, and the Bernhardt Theatre, as well as other playhouses throughout the world.
in 1949, follOwing His reCeIpt Of tHe debURau priZe (EstAblished As a mEmorial TO The 19th-centuRY Mime maSter jean-gaspArd DebUrAu) FOr hIS Second mimoDrama, dEath beFore daWN, MarCeaU FOundeD coMpAgnie de mImE MARcEl MArceau, the onLy COmPanY Of PAntOMiMe iN the worLd AT tHe Time. The ensEmblE pLayed tHe LEAdinG paRiS theatRes, sucH as LE THéâtrE des chaMps-élyséES, Le ThéÂtre de lA rEnaiSsance, and the berNhArdT theaTRe, as well as oTHEr plAyhouSes thrOUghouT thE WOrlD.