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Footit

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description Footit Overview

George Footit (1864-1921) was an English equestrian clown and acrobat who performed in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. He is best known for forming the comedic duo Footit and Chocolat with Rafael Padilla at the Nouveau Cirque in Paris. Footit played the authoritative whiteface clown to Padilla's Auguste counterpart, establishing a comedic dynamic that heavily influenced modern clowning. Their performances catered to Parisian theater and circus audiences of the Belle Époque.

help Footit FAQ

Who was Footit's partner in the famous Paris clown act?

George Foottit performed with Rafael Padilla, the Afro-Cuban entertainer known as Chocolat. They became stars of Paris's Nouveau Cirque during the 1890s.

Which clown roles did Footit and Chocolat play?

Foottit played the authoritarian whiteface clown, while Chocolat performed as the comic auguste. Their unequal stage relationship became an influential model for European clown duos, although its racial stereotyping is now examined critically.

Was Footit originally an equestrian performer?

Yes, the English-born Foottit came from a circus family and worked as a clown-equilibrist and equestrian performer. His physical skill remained important when he shifted toward comic pantomime.

Is Footit portrayed in the film Chocolat?

Yes, James Thierrée plays Foottit opposite Omar Sy as Chocolat in Roschdy Zem's film Chocolat. The French production dramatizes the duo's fame and the racism experienced by Rafael Padilla.