The superstition that green brings bad luck to actors is said to originate from the colour of the clothing Molière was wearing on stage at the time of his death. [1]
Molière was a French playwright and actor who lived in the 17th century. He is widely considered one of the greatest playwrights in the French language and one of the greatest masters of comedy in Western literature. He died on stage during a production of his play about a man who fakes his own death (a joke Molière would surely have enjoyed!).
Jean-Baptiste Poquelin, known to us by his stage name Molière, wrote some of the greatest comedies in the French language including Tartuffe, a satirical comedy about religious hypocrisy; The Misanthrope, a comedy that criticizes the manners and customs of 17th century French society; and The Imaginary Invalid, a play about a hypochondriac who becomes so obsessed with his own health that he loses touch with reality.
His plays are characterized by their sharp wit, social commentary, and realistic portrayal of human nature. He often used comedy as a tool to criticize the hypocrisy and pretentiousness of the upper classes, and his plays were not always well received by the powerful figures of his day. Nevertheless, his works have stood the test of time and remain popular to this day.
Molière suffered from pulmonary tuberculosis, possibly contracted when he was imprisoned for debt as a young man. The circumstances of his death, on 17 February 1673, became legend. He collapsed on stage in a fit of coughing and haemorrhaging while performing in the last play he had written, which ironically was titled The Imaginary Invalid. Molière insisted on completing his performance. Afterwards he collapsed again with another, larger haemorrhage before being taken home, where he died a few hours later, without receiving the last rites because two priests refused to visit him while a third arrived too late. He was only 51 years old but had already established himself as one of the greatest playwrights in the French language. He is now considered one of the greatest playwrights of all time, and his legacy continues to inspire new generations of writers, actors, and theatre-goers.