Richard Bell (died 1672) was an English stage actor. He joined the

King's Company The King's Company was one of two enterprises granted the rights to mount theatrical productions in London, after the London theatre closure had been lifted at the start of the English Restoration. It existed from 1660 to 1682, when it merged wit ...

based at the

Theatre Royal, Drury Lane The Theatre Royal, Drury Lane, commonly known as Drury Lane, is a West End theatre and Grade I listed building in Covent Garden, London, England. The building faces Catherine Street (earlier named Bridges or Brydges Street) and backs onto Dr ...

in 1668. Considered a promising actor he appeared in the premieres of two plays by

John Dryden '' John Dryden (; – ) was an English poet, literary critic, translator, and playwright who in 1668 was appointed England's first Poet Laureate. He is seen as dominating the literary life of Restoration England to such a point that the per ...

and

William Wycherley William Wycherley (baptised 8 April 16411 January 1716) was an English dramatist of the Restoration period, best known for the plays ''The Country Wife'' and ''The Plain Dealer''. Early life Wycherley was born at Clive near Shrewsbury, Shropsh ...

's debut '' Love in a Wood''. His career was cut short when he was killed in a fire that destroyed the Drury Lane theatre in January 1672. A planned role for him in Wycherley's new play ''

The Gentleman Dancing Master ''The'' () is a grammatical article in English, denoting persons or things already mentioned, under discussion, implied or otherwise presumed familiar to listeners, readers, or speakers. It is the definite article in English. ''The'' is the m ...

'' had to be cut.McCarthy p.49

Selected roles

* Frapolo in '' The Sisters'' by

James Shirley James Shirley (or Sherley) (September 1596 – October 1666) was an English dramatist. He belonged to the great period of English dramatic literature, but, in Charles Lamb's words, he "claims a place among the worthies of this period, not so m ...

(1668) * Christophero in ''

The Island Princess ''The Island Princess'' is a late Jacobean tragicomedy by John Fletcher, initially published in the first Beaumont and Fletcher folio of 1647. The play The authorship and the stage premier of the play are generally thought to have occurred ...

'' by John Fletcher (1668) *Amariel in '' Tyrannick Love'' by

(1669) * Honorius in '' The Roman Empress'' by William Joyner (1670) * Duke of Arcos in ''

The Conquest of Granada ''The Conquest of Granada'' is a English Restoration, Restoration era stage play, a two-part tragedy written by John Dryden that was first acted in 1670 in literature, 1670 and 1671 in literature, 1671 and published in 1672 in literature, 1672. ...

'' by

(1670) * Sanco in '' The Generous Enemies'' by John Corye (1671) * Vincent in '' Love in a Wood'' by

(1671) * Julius Caesar in ''

Julius Caesar Gaius Julius Caesar (; ; 12 July 100 BC – 15 March 44 BC), was a Roman general and statesman. A member of the First Triumvirate, Caesar led the Roman armies in the Gallic Wars before defeating his political rival Pompey in a civil war, ...

'' by

William Shakespeare William Shakespeare ( 26 April 1564 – 23 April 1616) was an English playwright, poet and actor. He is widely regarded as the greatest writer in the English language and the world's pre-eminent dramatist. He is often called England's nation ...

(1672)

References

Bibliography

* McCarthy, B. Eugene. ''William Wycherley: A Biography''. Ohio University Press, 1979. * Van Lennep, W. ''The London Stage, 1660-1800: Volume One, 1660-1700''. Southern Illinois University Press, 1960. * Wilson, John Harold. ''Mr. Goodman the Player''. University of Pittsburgh Press, 1964. 17th-century English people English male stage actors 17th-century English male actors Year of birth unknown 1672 deaths {{England-stage-actor-stub