The Actor Who Died Performing His Own Satire

In 1673, the famous French playwright and actor Molière collapsed on stage in Paris while performing the title role in his own play, The Imaginary Invalid. Ironically, the play was a satire about a hypochondriac who fakes illness. Molière, who was suffering from real tuberculosis, insisted on finishing the performance. He collapsed again shortly after the final curtain fell and died at home later that evening.