Richard Burbage
Richard Burbage (
1567-
March 13,
1619) was an actor in
William Shakespeare's theater company, The Chamberlain's Men. He played the title role in the first performances of many of Shakespeare's plays, including
Hamlet,
Othello, and
King Lear, as well as in the plays of many of the great contemporary writers, such as
Ben Johnson. He was also a co-owner, with his brother Cuthbert, of the
Globe Theatre and the Blackfriar's Theatre, both established by their father James Burbage.