Moliere, French Playwright and Actor Moliere, French Playwright and Actor IMAGE NUMBER: JC4086 LICENSE: RIGHTS MANAGED Jean-Baptiste Poquelin, known by his stage name Moliere (January 15, 1622 - February 17, 1673) was a French playwright and actor who is considered to be one of the greatest masters of comedy in Western literature. Born into a prosperous family and having studied at the College de Clermont (now Lycee Louis-le-Grand), he was well suited to begin a life in the theatre. Thirteen years as an itinerant actor helped him polish his comic abilities while he began writing, combining Commedia dell'arte elements with the more refined French comedy. Though he received the adulation of the court and Parisians, Moliere's satires attracted criticism from moralists and the Catholic Church. Tartuffe and its attack on perceived religious hypocrisy roundly received condemnations from the Church, while Don Juan was banned from performance. Moliere's hard |