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Joseph Grimaldi

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Clown

The Resume

    (December 18, 1778-May 31, 1837)
    Born in London, United Kingdom
    Popular pantomime performer
    Headlined at the Theatre Royal, Convent Garden, Drury Lane and Sadler's Wells

Why he might be annoying:

    He made his stage debut at age two, opposite his father.
    He accidentally shot himself in the foot during one play (1801).
    He spent his last years a bitter, depressed alcoholic.
    He and his wife made a suicide pact and took poison, but the only result was severe stomach cramps (1832).
    His makeup fell well into 'Can't sleep, clown will eat me' territory.

Why he might not be annoying:

    His disciplinarian father would beat him for not following orders.
    While performing as a monkey on a chain onstage with his father, his father began swinging him around his head until the chain snapped, landing young Grimaldi in the orchestra pit (1785).
    At age nine, he became his family's main breadwinner when his father died.
    His first wife died in childbirth (1800).
    He was the most popular entertainer of Regency England.
    He popularized whiteface makeup for clowns.
    His memoirs were ghostwritten by Charles Dickens.
    During a meeting with Lord Byron, the poet said he felt 'unbounded satisfaction in becoming acquainted with a man of such rare and profound talents.'

Credit: C. Fishel


Featured in the following Annoying Collections:

Year In Review:

    In 2023, Out of 9 Votes: 55.56% Annoying
    In 2022, Out of 4 Votes: 0% Annoying
    In 2021, Out of 26 Votes: 88.46% Annoying
    In 2020, Out of 5 Votes: 20.0% Annoying
    In 2019, Out of 17 Votes: 52.94% Annoying
    In 2018, Out of 9 Votes: 44.44% Annoying
    In 2017, Out of 8 Votes: 62.50% Annoying
    In 2016, Out of 1 Votes: 100% Annoying
    In 2015, Out of 75 Votes: 48.00% Annoying