Axelrod shaves trademark mustache for charity

Before and after: David Axelrod, adviser to the Obama campaign (AP)

One of the most famous political mustaches in America is no more.

Obama adviser David Axelrod said adieu Friday to his trademark mustache of 40 years, allowing it to be shaved off on live television in the name of epilepsy research.

Axelrod, who has bounced between the roles of campaign and White House adviser since his boss's 2008 run, agreed to shave it off after $1 million was raised for his epilepsy research group CURE. The Axelrods' daughter was diagnosed with epilepsy when she was a baby.

As he sat down for the shave on MSNBC, Axelrod joked that he was up all night. After the hosts tried an electric razor, a barber finished off the stache with a straight razor and shaving cream.