Wikipedia:Today's featured article/requests/Joseph Grimaldi

Joseph Grimaldi
This nomination predates the introduction in April 2014 of article-specific subpages for nominations and has been created from the edit history of Today's featured article/requests. 
 * This is the archived discussion of the TFAR nomination for the article below. Subsequent comments should be made on the appropriate discussion page (such as Wikipedia talk:Today's featured article/requests). Please do not modify this page. 

The result was: scheduled for Today's featured article/December 18, 2013 by BencherliteTalk 10:45, 6 December 2013‎ (UTC)



Joseph Grimaldi (1778–1837) was an English actor, comedian, dancer, and the Regency era's most successful entertainer. He popularised the role of Clown in the harlequinade that formed part of British pantomimes during the 1800s, and became a key pantomime performer at the Drury Lane, Sadler's Wells and Covent Garden theatres. He first appeared on stage at Drury Lane as "Little Clown" in the pantomime The Triumph of Mirth; or, Harlequin's Wedding, while still a boy. Other successful roles at the theatre followed, but he left in 1806 and took up theatrical residencies at the Covent Garden and Sadler's Wells theatres. As he matured, he began performing as "Clown", for which he created the whiteface make-up design still in use today. The numerous injuries he received as a result of his energetic performances led to a rapid decline in his health, and his early retirement in 1823. He rarely appeared on stage thereafter, and struggled to recapture his earlier success. Living in obscurity during his final years he became an impoverished alcoholic. Grimaldi died at home in Islington, aged 59, having outlived his wife and his actor son Joseph Samuel.

235th birthday, will be 1 yr FA on the proposed date, unusual influential personality, blurb by the author and Eric Corbett, --Gerda Arendt (talk) 21:41, 9 November 2013 (UTC)

ps: should we look for more Josephs? --Gerda Arendt (talk) 21:44, 9 November 2013 (UTC)
 * Why not, I did quite enjoy the recent run of Georges at TFA (admittedly I paid particular attention because one of them was my first FAC ever)... ;-) Cheers, Ian Rose (talk) 10:50, 10 November 2013 (UTC)
 * I have plans for a run of themed TFAs - but "same/similar Christian names" has been done now, so it'll be something different next time... BencherliteTalk 14:42, 11 November 2013 (UTC)


 * Support – as author. Pertinent date also for his popular pantomime characterisations at Christmas. -- Cassianto Talk   22:19, 9 November 2013 (UTC)
 * Oh no it's not... BencherliteTalk 14:42, 11 November 2013 (UTC)
 * He's behind you! —Cliftonian (talk) 15:06, 11 November 2013 (UTC)
 * Support. Relevant date, high quality, promoted December 2012. Educational, encyclopedic, and great to see stuff related to comedy on the Main Page. Cheers, &mdash; Cirt (talk) 22:32, 9 November 2013 (UTC)
 * Support. Excellent article and worthy of the front page. - SchroCat (talk) 22:57, 9 November 2013 (UTC)
 * Support – Good selection for the time of year, quite apart from the birthday angle. Poignantly illustrates the sad side of a clown's life and will, I suspect, get rather a good hit rate. – Tim riley (talk) 10:38, 10 November 2013 (UTC)
 * Support Seems a good choice.♦ Dr. Blofeld  16:59, 10 November 2013 (UTC)
 * Support Not the sort of article we commonly see on the main page, this would be a great TFA. -- Loeba (talk) 17:16, 10 November 2013 (UTC)
 * Support No reason not to!  Taylor Trescott  - my talk + my edits 17:42, 10 November 2013 (UTC)
 * Support per above. —Cliftonian (talk) 18:17, 10 November 2013 (UTC)
 * Support. - Excellent timing to TFA an even more excellent article! GabeMc  (talk&#124;contribs)  18:52, 28 November 2013 (UTC)
 * Support. Cas Liber (talk · contribs) 19:42, 28 November 2013 (UTC)
 * Thoroughly support per all the above.--Smerus (talk) 18:00, 2 December 2013 (UTC)
 * Support, as per the above. Excellent article: excellent choice for the front page. - SchroCat (talk) 21:39, 2 December 2013 (UTC)