Urbanus

Last updated

Urbain Servranckx
Urbanus door Dirk Annemans in 2023.jpg
Urbanus in 2023
Born (1949-06-07) 7 June 1949 (age 75)
Dilbeek, Belgium
Other namesUrbain, Urbanus van Anus
Occupation(s)Actor, comedian, singer

Urbain Servranckx (born 7 June 1949), better known as Urbanus, is a Belgian comedian, actor, singer and comic book writer. [1] Although he is most famous as comedian, some of his songs became hits, such as Bakske vol met stro (1979), Madammen met een bontjas (1980) and Hittentit (1982). [1] He is one of the most popular and famous entertainers in Flanders and the Netherlands. [1]

Contents

Career

Urbanus, artist's name of Urbain Joseph Servranckx (Dilbeek, 7 June 1949) is a Belgian comedian, singer, guitarist, author of comic books and actor. Originally he used the artist name: Urbanus van Anus. Anus was the name of his former backing group. [1] In 1973 he began performing cabaret and comedy. He became popular in Flanders and managed to duplicate his success in the Netherlands, building a steady career since. He has appeared in TV shows, some which he wrote himself. Urbanus released several musical singles, some of which entered the hit parade. [1] Urbain went solo in 1974 under the name Urbanus van Anus. After the then BRT (Belgian Radio and Television) asked him for a comic act, he dropped the name "van Anus" and since then it has been simply Urbanus. The first cover of Urbanus live was also drawn by Daniël Geirnaert. His Christmas song Bakske Vol Met Stro (1979) was controversial for lampooning the biblical story of the birth of Jesus, but also became his signature song and best-selling record for the very same reasons. [1] Urbanus considers himself an atheist, although he wed in the Roman Catholic Church and had his children baptized. [1] In 2008, he was awarded the Prize for Liberty by the Flemish think tank Nova Civitas.

Film career

Urbanus starred in three films: Hector (1987), Koko Flanel (1990) and Seventh Heaven (1993) . The two first films were the leaders in the Flemish box offices for many years. His first movie, Hector, directed by Stijn Coninx, won the 1988 international comedy film festival in Chamrousse, France. [1] He also was named best actor by Radio France and Dauphiné Libéré. Seventh Heaven was a box office bomb. In Flanders and the Netherlands Urbanus is well-known and very popular since 1974. Although he is most famous as a comedian, some of his songs became hits, such as Bakske vol met stro (1979), Madammen met een bontjas (1980) and Hittentit (1982). [1] Urbanus lent his voice to the Flemish versions of the Pixar movies, Cars and Cars 2 , where he was the voice of the character Mater.

Comics career

Statue in Middelkerke of Urbanus' comics version Luc Cauwenberghs - Urbanus - Stripstandbeelden Middelkerke 21-4-2018 11-51-54.jpg
Statue in Middelkerke of Urbanus' comics version

Urbanus is script writer of a comics series about a childlike version of himself, Urbanus , which debuted in 1982. The series is drawn by Willy Linthout and from the third story on, Urbanus started providing the scenarios. [1] The comic strip managed to become the longest-running series in the celebrity-inspired genre and new albums are still published to this day. [1] The comics also sell well in the Netherlands. [1]

In 2022, after 40 years and 201 albums, it was decided to stop the comic series. [2]

Urbanus also writes the gags for the satirical comic De Geverniste Vernepelingskes (1998), which pokes fun at several Flemish celebrities. It was first drawn by Jan Bosschaert, then Dirk Stallaert and finally Steven Dupré. Urbanus also writes gags for the children's comics Plankgas en Plastronneke (2004–2008) and Mieleke Melleke Mol (since 2003), both drawn by Dirk Stallaert. [1]

Urbanus has also drawn some gag comics himself. He also illustrated many of his own album covers. [1]

Discography

Albums

Urbanus in 1979 , Bestanddeelnr 930-5752.jpg
Urbanus in 1979
YearAlbumPeak positionsNote
BEL
(FL)

[3]
NLD
1974Urbanus van Anus leevend  
1975Urbanus van anus in de weide / op de vijver  
1977Drie sprookjes  
1978Volle maan  
1979Is er toevallig een Urbanus in de zaal? 24Live album
1982Urbanus VI 20Live album
1983Tien jaar live 26Live album /
Compilation album
1985Urbanus' plezantste 10Live album /
Compilation album
Donders en bliksems  
1986In 't echt! 31Live album
1995Iedereen beroemd  
2007Urbanus Vobiscum  Tribute album
2010Wie dit leest is zot!7 
2011Goe poeier!2 
2013Wan troe tie!4 
2016Urbanus zelf! – Theatertoer 2013–201554 
2017De Legende16 
2019Trecto Pnix53 
2022In roer en rep23 
2024Eigen favoliedjes14 

Singles

Urbanus in 1985 Portret van Urbanus, Bestanddeelnr 933-5242.jpg
Urbanus in 1985
YearAlbumPeak positionsNotes
BEL (FL)
Ultratop 50

[3]
BEL (FL)
Ultratip

[3]
NLD
Dutch Top 40
NLD
Single Top 100
1979"Een Bakske vol met stro"1   
1980"Quand les zosiaux chantent dans le bois"3   
1982"Kodazuur"39  50
1982"Hittentit"24  50
1983"Awel Mercie"27   
1984"Scratchin' zwaantjes"10   
1994"Poesje stoei"8 1512
1995"De paashaas"12   
2007"CO2 prostituee" 16  
2013"Zetpilcar" 2  with Isolde Lasoen

Films

Urbanus produced and appeared in several movies:

Urbanus did voices for the following movies:

Related Research Articles

<i>The Adventures of Nero</i> Belgian comic strip (1947–2002)

The Adventures of Nero or Nero was a Belgian comic strip drawn by Marc Sleen and the name of its main character. The original title ranged from De Avonturen van Detectief Van Zwam in 1947 to De Avonturen van Nero en zijn Hoed in 1950, and finally De Avonturen van Nero & Co from 1951. It ran in continuous syndication until 2002. From 1947 until 1993 it was all drawn by Sleen himself. From 1992 until 2002 Dirk Stallaert took over the drawing while Sleen kept inventing the stories.

<i>Spike and Suzy</i> Belgian comic series

Spike and Suzy, Willy and Wanda or Luke and Lucy is a Belgian comics series created by the comics author Willy Vandersteen.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Marc Sleen</span> Belgian cartoonist

Marcel Honoree Nestor (ridder) Neels, known as Marc Sleen, was a Belgian cartoonist. He was mostly known for his comic The Adventures of Nero and Co., but also created gag comics like Piet Fluwijn en Bolleke, De Lustige Kapoentjes, Doris Dobbel, Oktaaf Keunink and De Ronde van Frankrijk.

Notable events of 1962 in comics. Starting January, most companies raise their comics from 10 to 12 cents.

Inside Woody Allen is an American gag-a-day celebrity comics comic strip about the comedian and filmmaker Woody Allen. Drawn by Stuart Hample, the strip ran from October 4, 1976, to April 8, 1984.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Willy Vandersteen</span> Flemish comics author (1913–1990)

Willebrord Jan Frans Maria "Willy" Vandersteen was a Belgian creator of comic books. In a career spanning 50 years, he created a large studio and published more than 1,000 comic albums in over 25 series, selling more than 200 million copies worldwide.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Belgian comics</span> Distinct subgroup in the comics history

Belgian comics are a distinct subgroup in the comics history, and played a major role in the development of European comics, alongside France with whom they share a long common history. While the comics in the two major language groups and regions of Belgium each have clearly distinct characteristics, they are constantly influencing one another, and meeting each other in Brussels and in the bilingual publication tradition of the major editors. As one of the few arts where Belgium has had an international and enduring impact in the 20th century, comics are known to be "an integral part of Belgian culture".

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Jan Bosschaert</span> Belgian comics artist, painter and illustrator

Jan Bosschaert is a Belgian comics artist, painter and illustrator, best known for the comic series Sam and Jaguar, and his illustrations for the books of Marc De Bel.

<i>De Kiekeboes</i> Belgian comic strip

De Kiekeboes is a comic strip series created by Belgian artist Merho in 1977. The series appears in Dutch. It is first published in the newspapers Gazet van Antwerpen and Het Belang van Limburg and then published as comic books by Standaard Uitgeverij. The series is the best-selling comic in Flanders, but is unsuccessful abroad, with only a few publications in French and English.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Willy Linthout</span> Belgian comics author

Willy Linthout is a Belgian comics author, best known for the Urbanus comics and his graphic novel Years of the Elephant.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Cowboy Henk</span> Belgian comic strip series

Cowboy Henk is a Belgian absurd/surreal humour gag-a-day comic strip series drawn by Herr Seele and written by Kamagurka. It was originally published in the newspaper De Morgen, but later taken over by the magazine HUMO, in which it is still published today and for whom Henk is now their mascot. The series was in continuous syndication from 1981 until 2011. After the brief interruption it was continued again in the spring of 2013.

<i>Koko Flanel</i> 1990 Belgian film

Koko Flanel is a Belgian comedy movie directed by Stijn Coninx starring Urbanus, Bea Van der Maat, Willeke van Ammelrooy, Herbert Flack and Ann Petersen. The movie was released in 1990 and was until 18 February 2009 the most successful Flemish movie with respect to the number of visitors in Belgian movie theatres. It was then beaten by Loft.

<i>Hector</i> (1987 film) 1990 Belgian film

Hector is a Belgian comedy-drama film, directed by Stijn Coninx starring Urbanus and Sylvia Millecam. The movie was released in 1987 and was the most successful Flemish movie regarding the number of visitors in Belgian movie theatres until 1990. It was beaten by Koko Flanel, another movie with Stijn Coninx as director and Urbanus as main actor.

<i>Piet Fluwijn en Bolleke</i> Belgian comic strip

Piet Fluwijn en Bolleke was a Belgian gag-a-day comic strip series drawn by Marc Sleen from 1944 until 1965. It was continued by artists Hurey and Jean-Pol until 1974.

<i>De Lustige Kapoentjes</i>

De Lustige Kapoentjes was a long-running Flemish comic book series, which existed under different titles and was drawn by different artists, among whom Marc Sleen and Willy Vandersteen are the most well known. The series was published in 't Kapoentje, the youth supplement of Het Volk, and in Ons Volkske, the youth supplement of De Standaard. They were the mascots of 't Kapoentje from 1947 until the magazine's demise in 1985.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Schanulleke</span> Flemish comic book character

Schanulleke is a Flemish comic book character, originally named 'Schalulleke' and then 'Schabolleke', who originated in the Belgian comics series Suske en Wiske. In the series she is Wiske's beloved rag doll. Between 1986 and 1993 Schanulleke received her own spin-off series. The character's name in English is Molly, Sawdust or Muffin.

<i>Urbanus</i> (comic strip) Comic strip

Urbanus was a Flemish celebrity comic strip created by Willy Linthout and loosely based on Flemish comedian and singer Urbanus. The stories were written by Willy Linthout, Urbanus and Ann Smets, and drawn by Linthout. The first story was published in 1982 and was such a success that Urbanus ran for more than 40 years, becoming the longest-running and most successful Flemish comic strip based on a celebrity. It is also the longest-running celebrity comic in the world made by the same writer/artist team. The series sells well in the Netherlands too, due to Urbanus' popularity there.

Celebrity comics are comics based on the fame and popularity of a celebrity. They are a byproduct of merchandising around a certain media star or franchise and have existed since the mass media and comics came into existence in the 19th century. Celebrity comics are usually not held in high esteem by critics, because of their purely commercial nature. They are solely created to capitalize on media trends and therefore published so quickly and cheaply that drawings and narratives tend to be of very low quality.

Charlie Chaplin comics have been published in the United States, the United Kingdom, and Europe. Charlie Chaplin comic strips first appeared in 1915 in the U.S. and the U.K., cashing in on the tremendous popularity of the comedian at the time; they were some of the earliest comics inspired by the popularity of a celebrity. Although Charlie Chaplin comic strips didn't enjoy enduring popularity in the U.S., a Chaplin comic strip was published in the U.K. from 1915 until the late 1940s, while in France there were Chaplin comics published for more than 50 years.

Notable events of 2022 in comics. It includes any relevant comics-related events, deaths of notable comics-related people, conventions and first issues by title.

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 "Urbanus". Lambiek.net. Retrieved 7 January 2022.
  2. "Na 40 jaar stopt Urbanus met strips: eind oktober verschijnt het laatste album". vrt.be (in Dutch). 17 May 2022.
  3. 1 2 3 "Urbanus discography". Ultratop.be/nl. Retrieved 2 June 2024.