Burbage, Richard, 1567?-1619, first great English actor. The leading tragedian of the Chamberlain's Men, he originated the title roles in Shakespeare's Hamlet, Lear, Othello, and Richard III. He may also have appeared in many of the first productions of plays by Thomas Kyd, Beaumont and Fletcher, Ben Jonson, and John Webster. By contemporary standards, his acting style was considered realistic. Burbage's father, James Burbage, had built the first permanent theater in London in 1576, called the Theatre. In 1598 the building was removed to Bankside and set up as the Globe Theatre by Richard's brother, Cuthbert, on the death of their father. The brothers also inherited shares in the Blackfriars Theatre, built by their father in 1596, which became the winter home of the company.

(born circa 1567, London, Eng.—died March 9/13, 1619, London) British actor. A popular actor by age 20, he was a member of the Earl of Leicester's company and the Chamberlain's (later King's) Men. Closely associated with William Shakespeare, he was the first to play roles such as Richard III, Romeo, Henry V, Hamlet, Macbeth, Othello, and King Lear. He also performed in plays by Thomas Kyd, Ben Jonson, and John Webster. He was a major shareholder of the Globe Theatre and the Blackfriars Theatre.

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(born circa 1567, London, Eng.—died March 9/13, 1619, London) British actor. A popular actor by age 20, he was a member of the Earl of Leicester's company and the Chamberlain's (later King's) Men. Closely associated with William Shakespeare, he was the first to play roles such as Richard III, Romeo, Henry V, Hamlet, Macbeth, Othello, and King Lear. He also performed in plays by Thomas Kyd, Ben Jonson, and John Webster. He was a major shareholder of the Globe Theatre and the Blackfriars Theatre.

Learn more about Burbage, Richard with a free trial on Britannica.com.

Burbage is the name of several places:

• Burbage Brook, river in Derbyshire, England
• Burbage, Derbyshire, village in Derbyshire, England; now part of Buxton
• Burbage, Leicestershire, parish in Leicestershire, England
• Burbage, Wiltshire, parish in Wiltshire, England
• Burbage Primary School, in the London borough of Hackney

Burbage is the surname of several people:

• Richard Burbage (1658–1619), actor in William Shakespeare's theater company
• Cuthbert Burbage (1566–1636), older brother of Richard Burbage, and also involved with the theatrical business
• James Burbage (1531–1597), father of the Burbage brothers and builder of The Theatre
• Charity Burbage, minor fictional character in the Harry Potter books