{{Short description|Belgian comedian}} {{About|the Belgian artist}} {{Use dmy dates|date=October 2019}} {{Infobox person | name = Urbain Servranckx | image = Urbanus door Dirk Annemans in 2023.jpg | image_size = 200px | alt = Urbain Servranckx signing an Urbanus comic (2004) | caption = Urbanus in 2023 | birth_name = | birth_date = {{Birth date and age|df=y|1949|6|7}} | birth_place = Dilbeek, Belgium | death_date = <!-- {{Death date and age|df=y|YYYY|MM|DD|YYYY|MM|DD}} Death date then birth --> | death_place = | other_names = Urbain, Urbanus van Anus | occupation = Actor, comedian, singer | years_active = | spouse = | partner = | website = }}
'''Urbain Servranckx''' (born 7 June 1949), better known as '''Urbanus''', is a Belgian comedian, actor, singer and comic book writer.<ref name="lambiek.net">{{Cite web|url=https://www.lambiek.net/artists/u/urbanus.htm|title=Urbanus|website=Lambiek.net|access-date=7 January 2022|archive-date=19 November 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211119225533/https://www.lambiek.net/artists/u/urbanus.htm|url-status=live}}</ref> 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).<ref name="lambiek.net"/> He is one of the most popular and famous entertainers in Flanders and the Netherlands.<ref name="lambiek.net"/>
==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.<ref name="lambiek.net"/> 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.<ref name="lambiek.net"/> 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.<ref name="lambiek.net"/> Urbanus considers himself an atheist, although he wed in the Roman Catholic Church and had his children baptized.<ref name="lambiek.net"/> 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 ''De Zevende Hemel''. 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.<ref name="lambiek.net"/> 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).<ref name="lambiek.net"/> 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. In 2019 the animated movie ''Urbanus: De Vuilnisheld'' released in theaters. This movie was based on the comics series about a childlike version of Urbanus himself. It is an original story and not based on any of the comic issues. Urbanus co-wrote the movie and also voiced his movie counterpart.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Urbanus: De Vuilnisheld |url=http://www.imdb.com/title/tt9863566/ |website=imdb.com |access-date=26 August 2025 |archive-date=6 December 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20241206131606/https://www.imdb.com/title/tt9863566/ |url-status=live }}</ref>
==Comics career== [[File:Luc Cauwenberghs - Urbanus - Stripstandbeelden Middelkerke 21-4-2018 11-51-54.jpg|thumb|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.<ref name="lambiek.net"/> The comic strip managed to become the longest-running series in the celebrity-inspired genre.<ref name="lambiek.net"/> In 2022, after 40 years and 201 albums, it was decided to stop the comic series.<ref>{{Cite web |date=17 May 2022 |title=Na 40 jaar stopt Urbanus met strips: eind oktober verschijnt het laatste album |url=https://www.vrt.be/vrtnws/nl/2022/05/17/geen-strips-meer-van-urbanus-op-26-oktober-laatste-strip/ |website=vrt.be |language=nl |access-date=26 September 2023 |archive-date=26 September 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230926080741/https://www.vrt.be/vrtnws/nl/2022/05/17/geen-strips-meer-van-urbanus-op-26-oktober-laatste-strip/ |url-status=live }}</ref> The comics also sell well in the Netherlands.<ref name="lambiek.net"/>
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.<ref name="lambiek.net"/>
Urbanus has also drawn some gag comics himself. He also illustrated many of his own album covers.<ref name="lambiek.net"/>
==Discography== ===Albums=== thumb|Urbanus in 1979 {| class="wikitable" !align="center" rowspan="2" width="10"|Year !align="center" rowspan="2" width="180"|Album !align="center" colspan="2" width="20"|Peak positions !align="center" rowspan="2" width="90"|Note |- ! scope="col" style="width:5em;font-size:90%;" | BEL<br />(FL)<br /><ref name="bel">{{cite web | url=https://www.ultratop.be/nl/showinterpret.asp?interpret=Urbanus| title=Urbanus discography | website=Ultratop.be/nl | access-date=15 February 2026 | archive-date=15 December 2013 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131215125335/http://www.ultratop.be/nl/showinterpret.asp?interpret=Urbanus | url-status=live }}</ref> ! scope="col" style="width:5em;font-size:90%;" | NLD |- | style="text-align:center;"|1974 |''Urbanus van Anus leevend'' | style="text-align:center;"|{{spaced ndash}} | style="text-align:center;"|{{spaced ndash}} | style="text-align:center;"| |- | style="text-align:center;"|1975 |''Urbanus van anus in de weide / op de vijver'' | style="text-align:center;"|{{spaced ndash}} | style="text-align:center;"|{{spaced ndash}} | style="text-align:center;"| |- | style="text-align:center;"|1977 |''Drie sprookjes'' | style="text-align:center;"|{{spaced ndash}} | style="text-align:center;"|{{spaced ndash}} | style="text-align:center;"| |- | style="text-align:center;"|1978 |''Volle maan'' | style="text-align:center;"|{{spaced ndash}} | style="text-align:center;"|{{spaced ndash}} | style="text-align:center;"| |- | style="text-align:center;"|1979 |''Is er toevallig een Urbanus in de zaal?'' | style="text-align:center;"|{{spaced ndash}} | style="text-align:center;"|24 | style="text-align:center;"|Live album |- | style="text-align:center;"|1982 |''Urbanus VI'' | style="text-align:center;"|{{spaced ndash}} | style="text-align:center;"|20 | style="text-align:center;"|Live album |- | style="text-align:center;"|1983 |''Tien jaar live'' | style="text-align:center;"|{{spaced ndash}} | style="text-align:center;"|26 | style="text-align:center;"|Live album /<br />Compilation album |- | style="text-align:center;" rowspan=2|1985 |''Urbanus' plezantste'' | style="text-align:center;"|{{spaced ndash}} | style="text-align:center;"|10 | style="text-align:center;"|Live album /<br />Compilation album |- |''Donders en bliksems'' | style="text-align:center;"|{{spaced ndash}} | style="text-align:center;"|{{spaced ndash}} | style="text-align:center;"| |- | style="text-align:center;"|1986 |''In 't echt!'' | style="text-align:center;"|{{spaced ndash}} | style="text-align:center;"|31 | style="text-align:center;"|Live album |- | style="text-align:center;"|1995 |''Iedereen beroemd'' | style="text-align:center;"|{{spaced ndash}} | style="text-align:center;"|{{spaced ndash}} | style="text-align:center;"| |- | style="text-align:center;"|2007 |''Urbanus Vobiscum'' | style="text-align:center;"|{{spaced ndash}} | style="text-align:center;"|{{spaced ndash}} | style="text-align:center;"|Tribute album |- | style="text-align:center;"|2010 |''Wie dit leest is zot!'' | style="text-align:center;"|7 | style="text-align:center;"|{{spaced ndash}} | style="text-align:center;"| |- | style="text-align:center;"|2011 |''Goe poeier!'' | style="text-align:center;"|2 | style="text-align:center;"|{{spaced ndash}} | style="text-align:center;"| |- | style="text-align:center;"|2013 |''Wan troe tie!'' | style="text-align:center;"|4 | style="text-align:center;"|{{spaced ndash}} | style="text-align:center;"| |- | style="text-align:center;"|2016 |''Urbanus zelf! – Theatertoer 2013–2015'' | style="text-align:center;"|54 | style="text-align:center;"|{{spaced ndash}} | style="text-align:center;"| |- | style="text-align:center;"|2017 |''De Legende'' | style="text-align:center;"|16 | style="text-align:center;"|{{spaced ndash}} | style="text-align:center;"| |- | style="text-align:center;"|2019 |''Trecto Pnix'' | style="text-align:center;"|53 | style="text-align:center;"|{{spaced ndash}} | style="text-align:center;"| |- | style="text-align:center;"|2022 |''In roer en rep'' | style="text-align:center;"|23 | style="text-align:center;"|{{spaced ndash}} | style="text-align:center;"| |- | style="text-align:center;"|2024 |''Eigen favoliedjes'' | style="text-align:center;"|14 | style="text-align:center;"|{{spaced ndash}} | style="text-align:center;"| |- | style="text-align:center;"|2026 |''Hartverwarmende liedjes'' | style="text-align:center;"|178 | style="text-align:center;"|{{spaced ndash}} | style="text-align:center;"| |}
===Singles=== thumb|Urbanus in 1985 {| class="wikitable" !align="center" rowspan="2" width="10"|Year !align="center" rowspan="2" width="180"|Album !align="center" colspan="4" width="20"|Peak positions !align="center" rowspan="2" width="100"|Notes |- ! scope="col" style="width:5em;font-size:90%;" | BEL (FL)<br />Ultratop 50<br /><ref name="bel"/> ! scope="col" style="width:5em;font-size:90%;" | BEL (FL)<br />Ultratip<br /><ref name="bel"/> ! scope="col" style="width:5em;font-size:90%;" | NLD<br />Dutch Top 40 ! scope="col" style="width:5em;font-size:90%;" | NLD<br />Single Top 100 |- | style="text-align:center;"|1979 |"Een Bakske vol met stro" | style="text-align:center;"|1 | style="text-align:center;"|{{spaced ndash}} | style="text-align:center;"|{{spaced ndash}} | style="text-align:center;"|{{spaced ndash}} | |- | style="text-align:center;"|1980 |"Quand les zosiaux chantent dans le bois" | style="text-align:center;"|3 | style="text-align:center;"|{{spaced ndash}} | style="text-align:center;"|{{spaced ndash}} | style="text-align:center;"|{{spaced ndash}} | |- | style="text-align:center;"|1982 |"Kodazuur" | style="text-align:center;"|39 | style="text-align:center;"|{{spaced ndash}} | style="text-align:center;"|{{spaced ndash}} | style="text-align:center;"|50 | |- | style="text-align:center;"|1982 |"Hittentit" | style="text-align:center;"|24 | style="text-align:center;"|{{spaced ndash}} | style="text-align:center;"|{{spaced ndash}} | style="text-align:center;"|50 | |- | style="text-align:center;"|1983 |"Awel Mercie" | style="text-align:center;"|27 | style="text-align:center;"|{{spaced ndash}} | style="text-align:center;"|{{spaced ndash}} | style="text-align:center;"|{{spaced ndash}} | |- | style="text-align:center;"|1984 |"Scratchin' zwaantjes" | style="text-align:center;"|10 | style="text-align:center;"|{{spaced ndash}} | style="text-align:center;"|{{spaced ndash}} | style="text-align:center;"|{{spaced ndash}} | |- | style="text-align:center;"|1994 |"Poesje stoei" | style="text-align:center;"|8 | style="text-align:center;"|{{spaced ndash}} | style="text-align:center;"|15 | style="text-align:center;"|12 | |- | style="text-align:center;"|1995 |"De paashaas" | style="text-align:center;"|12 | style="text-align:center;"|{{spaced ndash}} | style="text-align:center;"|{{spaced ndash}} | style="text-align:center;"|{{spaced ndash}} | |- | style="text-align:center;"|2007 |"CO2 prostituee" | style="text-align:center;"|{{spaced ndash}} | style="text-align:center;"|16 | style="text-align:center;"|{{spaced ndash}} | style="text-align:center;"|{{spaced ndash}} | |- | style="text-align:center;"|2013 |"Zetpilcar" | style="text-align:center;"|{{spaced ndash}} | style="text-align:center;"|2 | style="text-align:center;"|{{spaced ndash}} | style="text-align:center;"|{{spaced ndash}} | with Isolde Lasoen |- |}
==Films== Urbanus produced and appeared in several movies: *''Hector'' (1988) *''Koko Flanel'' (1990) *''Les Sept péchés capitaux'' (1992) *''De Zevende Hemel'' (1993) *''Max'' (1994) *''{{Ill|De duistere diamant|nl|3=De duistere diamant (film)|lt=De duistere diamant}}'' (2004) *''K3 en het IJsprinsesje'' (2007) *''{{Ill|Mega Mindy en het Zwarte Kristal|nl|3=Mega Mindy en het Zwarte Kristal|lt=Mega Mindy en het Zwarte Kristal}}'' (2010)
Urbanus did voices for the following movies: *''March of the Penguins'' (2005) – narration for the Dutch version *''Cars'' (2006) – voice of Mater for the Flemish version *The Flight Before Christmas (2008) - voice of Julius for the Dutch/Flemish version *Little Brother, Big Trouble: A Christmas Adventure (2012) - voice of Julius for the Dutch/Flemish version *''{{Ill|Urbanus: De Vuilnisheld|nl|3=Urbanus: De vuilnisheld|lt=Urbanus: De vuilnisheld}}'' (2019) - voice of his movie counterpart
==References== {{reflist}}
==External links== {{commons category|Urbain Servranckx}} * {{Official website|https://urbanus.be}} * [https://www.lambiek.net/artists/u/urbanus.htm Lambiek Comiclopedia article about his entire life and career]
{{Authority control (arts)}}
Category:1949 births Category:Living people Category:20th-century Flemish male actors Category:21st-century Flemish male actors Category:20th-century Belgian male singers Category:20th-century Belgian singers Category:21st-century Belgian male singers Category:21st-century Belgian singers Category:Belgian atheists Category:Belgian stand-up comedians Category:Belgian comedy musicians Category:Belgian pop singers Category:Belgian rock singers Category:Belgian singer-songwriters Category:Belgian male guitarists Category:Belgian satirical musicians Category:Belgian surrealist artists Category:Belgian comics writers Category:Belgian satirical comics writers Category:Belgian comics artists Category:Belgian critics of Christianity Category:Critics of the Catholic Church Category:Belgian album-cover and concert-poster artists Category:Flemish male film actors Category:Flemish male voice actors Category:Flemish television writers Category:People from Dilbeek Category:Dutch-language Belgian singers Category:Surreal comedy Category:Belgian television show creators Category:Belgian male television writers Category:Religious controversies in music Category:Religious controversies in Belgium Category:Obscenity controversies in music Category:Television controversies in Belgium Category:Pseudonymous comics artists