 Grimaldi 's father , Joseph Giuseppe Grimaldi ( c . 1713 – 1788 ) , an actor and dancer ( known professionally as Giuseppe or " the Signor " ) , also made his way to London in around 1760 . His first London appearance was at the King 's Theatre . He was later engaged by David Garrick to play Pantaloon in pantomimes at the Theatre Royal , Drury Lane , earning high praise , and eventually became the ballet master there . Grimaldi 's mother , Rebecca Brooker , was born in Holborn in 1764 . She was apprenticed to Giuseppe Grimaldi in 1773 as a dancer and public speaker , and she became his mistress shortly afterwards , even though she was under 14 and he was about 60 . 
