Mandy Patinkin, the 73-year-old star known for roles in productions like “Criminal Minds,” disclosed his end-of-life preference for human composting on his “Don’t Listen to Us” podcast. Reflecting on a speech he memorized from “Rosencrantz and Guildenstern Are Dead,” he expressed his aversion to traditional burial and cremation.
Patinkin highlighted his claustrophobia as a key reason for avoiding burial in a box, saying, “I’m very claustrophobic, and the idea of being put in a box when everything familiar has changed is unacceptable to me.” Addressing cremation, he cited his Jewish heritage and the history of Auschwitz as reasons for rejecting this option, stating, “I can’t bear the idea of being burned.”
Raised with a conservative Jewish background, Patinkin explained that Orthodox Judaism views the body as needing to remain intact. “You must be complete for the world beyond, where everything is resurrected,” he elaborated. Humorously, he added, “otherwise, you’ll be in ‘The Wizard of Oz’ looking for the parts.”
Discussing human composting, he appreciated that it alleviates his concerns about claustrophobia and burning. “I love this idea because I don’t have to be burned or claustrophobic. I become mulch, and I’m free to go to the world beyond as complete,” he said with enthusiasm.
The concept was introduced to Patinkin by a guest named Robyn on his podcast. Human composting involves placing the body in a vessel surrounded by organic material. This process, utilizing heat, oxygen, and moisture, transforms the body into soil in about a month. This soil is then given back to the family.