Monday, August 31, 2026 - Noël Godin, the Belgian anarchist, actor and social commentator famous for throwing cream pies at powerful and famous figures, has died at the age of 80.
His death was confirmed by his partner, Sylvie Broodthaers, with reports saying he died on August 23. Godin became internationally known for his unusual form of protest, targeting politicians, filmmakers, philosophers and business leaders.
Among his most recognizable targets was Microsoft co-founder Bill Gates, whom Godin famously paid in Brussels in 1998.
Other targets included filmmaker Jean-Luc Godard, former French prime minister Nicolas Sarkozy and French philosopher Bernard-Henri Lévy, who was targeted multiple times. Godin described his approach as a way of bringing powerful figures down a notch and turning protest into an unexpected public spectacle.
Godin's death has renewed attention on a figure who turned an ordinary cream pie into a provocative symbol of dissent.
For decades, his actions combined political criticism, performance and humor, making him one of the most unusual figures in European protest culture. His passing at 80 marks the end of a career that repeatedly challenged celebrity and power in ways few people could ignore.
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