Mandy Patinkin, aged 73, revealed his end-of-life choice on his podcast, Don’t Listen to Us. He expressed a preference for human composting over traditional burial or cremation.
Patinkin shared a memory about memorizing a speech from Rosencrantz and Guildenstern Are Dead, highlighting his strong aversion to being enclosed in a box due to claustrophobia. He stated, “The idea of being put in a box… is just unacceptable to me. Period. Full stop.”
The Criminal Minds actor further explained, “Don’t give me any business about, ‘Well, you’re not you, you’re not here, it’s a whole different thing.’ Excuse me. Not OK.”
Due to his Jewish heritage, Patinkin is also opposed to cremation. He referenced the Holocaust, saying, “The other idea of being put in an oven is seared into my heritage genetics of the crematorium in Auschwitz, which I’ve visited. I can’t bear the idea of being burned.”
Orthodox Judaism influences his views further. He mentioned that it requires the body to remain intact for future resurrection, as the Messiah will come and everything will be resurrected.
Patinkin humorously added, “You’ll be in the Wizard of Oz looking for the parts” if you are not complete.
On the podcast, Patinkin shared that being confined in a box or cremated makes him uncomfortable. He said, “I love this idea [ of composting] so much because I don’t have to be burned, and I don’t have to be claustrophobic.”
The concept of becoming mulch, food, and soil through the organic process fills Patinkin with peace. He remarked, “I’m not in an oven … I just am ecstatic over this.”
Patinkin’s decision was influenced by a podcast guest, Robyn, who discussed her husband’s desire for an environmentally friendly burial.
Human composting involves placing a body in a vessel surrounded by organic material. The vessel, aided by controlled heat, oxygen, and moisture, transforms the body into soil over about a month. The resulting soil is then given to the family.
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