Grimaldi, Joseph

Grimaldi, Joseph (1778-1837), English clown and pantomimist, born in London, the illegitimate son of Italian ballet-master Giuseppe Grimaldi. He was introduced to the stage as a baby at Sadler’s Wells, and made his professional debut aged three in Robinson Crusoe at the Drury Lane Theatre. By the time of his father’s death, in 1788, Grimaldi was a seasoned child performer, appearing in pantomimes at both theatres, often on the same night.

He made his debut as Clown alongside Baptiste Dubois at Sadler’s Wells in 1800, but it was for his reinterpretation of Harlequin and Mother Goose at Covent Garden in 1806 that he would become famous. Until then, Harlequin, derived from the Italian commedia dell’arte, had been the stock character of English pantomime. Grimaldi transformed the role, adopting a painted white face with exaggerated eyebrows and red triangles for cheeks, and introducing his own madcap routine.

Entering with the catchphrase, “Here we go again!”, Grimaldi would lead the audience in comic sing-alongs of “Hot Codlins” (roasted apples). His superb comic timing, and the inventiveness of his tricks, acrobatics, and disguises elevated the classic chases and knockabout capers of the genre to a fine art. Such was his popularity that his nickname “Joey” came into colloquial use as a synonym for Clown.

For many years Grimaldi was Sadler’s Wells leading attraction, on one occasion, when a coach failed to arrive to take him to Covent Garden, running through the streets in his clown’s costume, hailed by cheering admirers. A talented actor, he also appeared in straight roles, winning critical acclaim for his performance in The Wild Man, based on a story by Cervantes, at Sadler’s Wells in 1807.

By 1822 his health had begun to fail, and he made his last appearances at Sadler’s Wells and Drury Lane in 1828. His Memoirs of Joseph Grimaldi (1838) was edited by Charles Dickens. He is acknowledged as the father of modern clowning.