Joseph Grimaldi

Joseph Grimaldi (1779-1837), English clown and pantomimist, born in London, the son of an Italian actor. He made his stage debut at the age of two at the Drury Lane Theatre, London, and appeared there until 1806, when he moved to the Covent Garde Theatre. His best-known role was that of the clown in the pantomime Harlequin and Mother Goose (1806). Grimaldi was the most famous clown in the history of pantomime; his nickname Joey came into colloquial use in England as a synonym for clown. He retired in 1823, worn out by hard work. His Memoirs of Joseph Grimaldi (1838) was edited by Charles Dickens.