Tiberio Fiorilli

Who was Tiberio Fiorilli?

Tiberio Fiorilli was an Italian actor of commedia dell'arte known for developing the role of Scaramouche. He was especially popular in France, where he was the director of the troop of the Comédie-Italienne, which shared with the troop of his friend Molière the Theatre of the Petit-Bourbon, and the Theatre of the Palais-Royal.

He was born in Naples, but left Italy around 1640 for unknown reasons, perhaps simply while following a troupe of actors, or to flee a political intrigue. He arrived in France under the reign of Louis XIII. His play pleased the queen, which enabled him to attend the court.

It is said that one day, when the two-year-old Dauphin cried, Fiorilli, as Scaramouche, made any possible sound to comfort him. He achieved this task with grimaces and tomfoolery; consequently, the Dauphin had "a need, that he had at the time, the hands and the dress of Scaramouche". Fiorilli was then ordered to visit the court every night to amuse the Dauphin, which helped the Scaramouche character become a stock figure in the theatre of the time. The character of Scaramouche became a standard role thereafter of the commedia dell'arte. He died in Paris and is buried in the Église Saint-Eustache.