Eiler Larsen

Eiler Larsen
Larsen as seen on a Laguna Beach postcard ca. 1960.
Born	(1890-03-27)March 27, 1890 Aarhus, Denmark
Died	March 19, 1975(1975-03-19) (aged 84) Capistrano Beach, Dana Point, California
Resting place	Los Angeles National Cemetery
Nationality	Danish
Other names	"The Greeter"
Known for	being the Town Greeter of Laguna Beach

Eiler Larsen (March 27, 1890 – March 19, 1975) was a Danish vagabond who earned fame as "The Greeter" of Laguna Beach, California, United States.^[1] Larsen wandered in Europe, South America and across the United States before settling in Laguna at age 52. He worked as an occasional gardener, but adopted the daily habit of standing on a street corner to greet every car and passerby. From the 1940s until the early 1970s, the shaggy-haired, heavily bearded Larsen grinning, waving and booming "Halloo-oo-oo!" to visitors became a cultural icon for Laguna Beach tourists. Local patrons supported him with a rent-free room, free meals and other services. In 1964, Larsen was proclaimed Laguna's Official Greeter by the mayor. During his lifetime, Larsen was featured in paintings, postcards, photographs and sculptures.