Willy Chanson

Willy Chanson, born as Willem Munnik in 1883, is a Dutch actor, revue artist and script-writer. Together with colleague Johan Silliakus he performed as the comical revue duo Mie & Ko. They were quite popular and successful with their so-called 'Jordaan'-act, singing and performing in a way as locals from the Amsterdam city part 'De Jordaan' did and lived. Willy played the part of Mie, a common local woman and, hilariously, he was also dressed likewise. In 1924 Willy wrote a famous Dutch song, called 'De Dievenwagen', which was recorded by several Dutch singers and considered as a classic today. The duo performed in two silent movies: 'Mie En Ko Uit Den Jordaan Te Amsterdam, Met De Gevonden Damschat' (1917) and 'Aankomst Van Mie En Ko Te Hilversum' (1920). Willy Chanson played a small part in one of the first Dutch 'talkies', the 1937 film 'Pygmalion'. He died after a long illness in 1942, aged 59.