Ruggero Leoncavallo, born Ruggiero Giacomo Maria Giuseppe Emmanuele Raffaele Domenico Vincenzo Francesco Donato Leoncavallo on April 23, 1857, in Naples, was a renowned Italian opera composer and librettist. He is best known for his opera "Pagliacci," which premiered in 1892 and remains one of the most popular works in the operatic repertoire. Leoncavallo was a significant figure in the verismo movement, which sought to bring realism to opera.

Leoncavallo was the son of Vincenzo Leoncavallo, a police magistrate and judge. He spent part of his childhood in Calabria and later returned to Naples, where he studied at the San Pietro a Majella Conservatory. He furthered his education in literature at the University of Bologna under the poet Giosuè Carducci.

In 1879, Leoncavallo moved to Egypt to work as a private musician for Mahmud Hamdi Pasha, brother of the Khedive of Egypt. However, the British intervention in the Urabi revolt in 1882 forced him to leave Egypt, and he relocated to Paris. There, he supported himself by giving piano and singing lessons and met his future wife, Berthe Rambaud.

Leoncavallo returned to Italy in 1888 and struggled to produce his operas until the success of "Pagliacci." He also composed "La Bohème," which was overshadowed by Puccini's version, and other operas like "Zazà" and "Der Roland." Leoncavallo was his own librettist for most of his works and contributed to the libretto for Puccini's "Manon Lescaut."

Ruggero Leoncavallo passed away on August 9, 1919, in Montecatini Terme, Italy. His legacy as a composer is primarily defined by "Pagliacci," which continues to be celebrated for its emotional depth and realism.