1896Nominee
Best Performance
Guillaume Tell
Rafael Padilla
Actor
January 1, 1865
Biography
Chocolat was the stage name of Rafael Padilla (ca. 1865/68 – 4 November 1917), a clown who performed in a Paris circus around the turn of the 20th century. Rafael was of Afro-Cuban descent and was one of the earliest successful black entertainers in modern France. He was the first black clown to play a lead role in a circus pantomime act, and with his longtime partner George Foottit they revolutionized the art of clowning by pairing the sophisticated white clown with the foolish auguste clown.
Photo
Representative Works
Awards and Honors
Critical Favorites
1900Nominee
Best Performance
Le policeman
1900Nominee
Best Performance
Phono-Cinéma-Théâtre
Career Highlights
1900Highlight
Best Performance
Foottit et Chocolat, II. Acrobates sur la chaise
1900Highlight
Best Performance
Foottit et Chocolat, I. Boxeurs
Video
Foottit et Chocolat, II. Acrobates sur la chaise
Foottit et Chocolat, I. Boxeurs