Crowne, John, c.1640-c.1703, English playwright. The favorite playwright of Charles II, he is remembered for several rather mediocre comedies. Crowne was influenced by the French tradition, particularly by Molière, and the mental states of his characters are more important than plot. Among his plays are Pandion and Amphigenia (1665), Sir Courtly Nice (1685), and The Married Beau (1694).