author
George Grossmith
1847–1912
Best remembered for the comic roles he created in Gilbert and Sullivan’s original Savoy operas, he was one of Victorian England’s most versatile entertainers. He also wrote songs, sketches, and, with his brother Weedon, the enduring comic novel The Diary of a Nobody.
2 Audiobooks
The Diary of a Nobody
by George Grossmith, Weedon Grossmith
A Society Clown: Reminiscences
by George Grossmith
About the author
Born in London on 9 December 1847, George Grossmith built a career that stretched across the Victorian stage as a comedian, singer, actor, writer, and composer. Before becoming famous in the theatre, he worked as a journalist and court reporter, then moved into public entertainment with humorous songs, recitations, and sketches.
He became closely associated with Richard D'Oyly Carte’s Savoy Theatre and created many of the best-known comic baritone parts in the original Gilbert and Sullivan productions. Audiences especially remembered him for roles such as Sir Joseph Porter in H.M.S. Pinafore, Major-General Stanley in The Pirates of Penzance, and Ko-Ko in The Mikado.
Grossmith’s talents reached far beyond performance. He wrote a large body of songs and musical pieces, published memoirs and comic writing, and co-wrote The Diary of a Nobody with his brother Weedon Grossmith. He died on 1 March 1912, but his stage work and sharply observed humor have kept his name alive ever since.