Photo: George Cruikshank (27 September 1792 – 1 February 1878) / Public domain (source: Wikimedia Commons)
Public records list Joseph Grimaldi as a dancer, clown and singer. Joseph Grimaldi was born in London, Roman Empire on December 18, 1778. Death is recorded on May 31, 1837, at the age of 58.
My Take
Joseph Grimaldi fascinates me because so much of modern clowning traces straight back to him. As the defining entertainer of the Regency era, he reshaped the Clown of the harlequinade at Drury Lane, Sadler's Wells and Covent Garden into something audiences adored. What I admire most is the physical and emotional cost behind that laughter; comedians who give their bodies to the crowd rarely get their due. Two centuries on, the white-faced clown still carries his DNA. I think of him as a true founding father of comic performance, far more influential than his name now suggests.
1. Profile
- Name (English)
- Joseph Grimaldi
- Name (Japanese)
- ジョーゼフ・グリマルディ
- Reading
- じょーぜふ・ぐりまるでぃ
- Born
- December 18, 1778 – May 31, 1837
- Zodiac / Chinese zodiac
- Sagittarius / Dog
- Origin
- London, Roman Empire
- Occupation
- dancer / clown / singer / circus performer / stage actor
2. Links
3. About this entry
Tags
- Last updated
- 2026-06-21
Facts are limited to publicly available information up to 2024; non-public or unconfirmed items are omitted. English text is machine-assisted (facts translated by Sonnet, "My Take" written by Opus 4.8). The Japanese page is the source of record.
Frequently asked questions
When was Joseph Grimaldi born?
Born December 18, 1778.
When did Joseph Grimaldi die?
Died May 31, 1837, aged 58.
Where was Joseph Grimaldi from?
Joseph Grimaldi was from London, Roman Empire.
What did Joseph Grimaldi do?
Joseph Grimaldi worked as dancer, clown, singer, circus performer, stage actor.