William Barrymore (1759–1830) was a British

stage actor An actor or actress is a person who portrays a character in a performance. The actor performs "in the flesh" in the traditional medium of the theatre or in modern media such as film, radio, and television. The analogous Greek term is (), lite ...

. Originally from

Taunton Taunton () is the county town of Somerset, England, with a 2011 population of 69,570. Its thousand-year history includes a 10th-century monastic foundation, Taunton Castle, which later became a priory. The Normans built a castle owned by the ...

he was part of a company of strolling players in the

West Country The West Country (occasionally Westcountry) is a loosely defined area of South West England, usually taken to include all, some, or parts of the counties of Cornwall, Devon, Dorset, Somerset, Bristol, and, less commonly, Wiltshire, Gloucesters ...

, and was acting at

Plymouth Plymouth () is a port city and unitary authority in South West England. It is located on the south coast of Devon, approximately south-west of Exeter and south-west of London. It is bordered by Cornwall to the west and south-west. Plymouth ...

in 1780. He first appeared 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 1782, under the management of

Richard Sheridan Richard Sheridan may refer to: * Richard Bingham Sheridan (1822–1897), Australian civil servant *Richard Brinsley Sheridan (1751–1816), Irish playwright *Richard Brinsley Sheridan (politician) (1806–1888), Irish politician See also *Dick Sher ...

, and became a long-standing member of the company.Highfill, Burnim & Langhams p.355-58 He is also the namesake of the famed

Barrymore family The Barrymore family is an American acting family. The Barrymores are also the inspiration of a Broadway play called ''The Royal Family'', which debuted in 1927. Many members of the Barrymore family are not mentioned in this article. The surnam ...

Selected roles

* Lord Aimworth in '' The Maid of the Mill'' by

Isaac Bickerstaffe Isaac Bickerstaffe or Bickerstaff (26 September 1733 – after 1808) was an Irish playwright and Librettist. Early life Isaac John Bickerstaff was born in Dublin, on 26 September 1733, where his father John Bickerstaff held a government posi ...

(1782) * Osric in ''

Hamlet ''The Tragedy of Hamlet, Prince of Denmark'', often shortened to ''Hamlet'' (), is a tragedy written by William Shakespeare sometime between 1599 and 1601. It is Shakespeare's longest play, with 29,551 words. Set in Denmark, the play depicts ...

'' 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 ...

(1783) * Freeman in ''

The Metamorphosis ''Metamorphosis'' (german: Die Verwandlung) is a novella written by Franz Kafka which was first published in 1915. One of Kafka's best-known works, ''Metamorphosis'' tells the story of salesman Gregor Samsa, who wakes one morning to find himsel ...

'' by William Jackson (1783) * Connal in '' The Captives'' by

John Delap John Delap (1725–1812) was an English churchman and academic, known as a poet and dramatist. Life The son of John Delap, of Spilsby in Lincolnshire, he entered Trinity College, Cambridge, but migrated to Magdalene College, and was admitted pen ...

(1786) * Amphares in '' The Fate of Sparta'' by Hannah Cowley (1788) * Alonzo in ''

Marcella Marcella is a Roman cognomen and Italian given name, the feminine version of Marcello (Mark in English). Marcella means warlike, martial, and strong. It could also mean 'young warrior'. The origin of the name Marcella is Latin. Marcella may refer ...

'' by

William Hayley William Hayley (9 November 174512 November 1820) was an English writer, best known as the biographer of his friend William Cowper. Biography Born at Chichester, he was sent to Eton College, Eton in 1757, and to Trinity Hall, Cambridge, in 176 ...

(1789) * Sir Charles Freemantle in ''

The Impostors ''The Impostors'' is a 1998 American farce motion picture directed, written and produced by Stanley Tucci, starring Oliver Platt, Tucci, Alfred Molina, Tony Shalhoub, Steve Buscemi, and Billy Connolly. The film, in which Oliver Platt and Stanley ...

'' by

Richard Cumberland Richard Cumberland may refer to: * Richard Cumberland (philosopher) (1631–1718), bishop, philosopher * Richard Cumberland (dramatist) (1732–1811), civil servant, dramatist * Richard Cumberland (priest) (1710–1737), Archdeacon of Northa ...

(1789) * Mr Fashion in ''

The Welch Heiress ''The Welch'' (or Welsh) ''Heiress'' is a 1795 comedy play written by Edward Jerningham. Although it had only a single stage performance, the published script had some success. Performance ''The Welch Heiress'' was given a single performance at ...

'' by

Edward Jerningham Edward Jerningham was a poet who moved in high society during the second half of the 18th century. Born at the family home of Costessey Park in 1737, he died in London on 17 November 1812. A writer of liberal views, he was savagely satirised later ...

(1795) * Sir Pertinax Pitiful in ''

The Man of Ten Thousand ''The Man of Ten Thousand'' is a 1796 comedy play by the British writer Thomas Holcroft. The original Drury Lane cast featured William Barrymore as Sir Pertinax Pitiful, John Palmer as Lord Laroon, Charles Kemble as Dorington, John Bannister as ...

'' by

Thomas Holcroft Thomas Holcroft (10 December 174523 March 1809) was an English dramatist, miscellanist, poet and translator. He was sympathetic to the early ideas of the French Revolution and helped Thomas Paine to publish the first part of ''The Rights of Man ...

(1796) * Annius in '' The Conspiracy'' by

Robert Jephson Robert Jephson (1736 – 31 May 1803) was an Irish dramatist and politician. Life He was born in Ireland, a younger son of John Jephson, Archdeacon of Cloyne. He entered Trinity College, Dublin in 1751, but left without a degree. He then j ...

(1796) *Osmond in ''

The Castle Spectre ''The Castle Spectre'' is a 1797 dramatic romance in five acts by Matthew "Monk" Lewis. It is a Gothic drama set in medieval Conwy, Wales. ''The Castle Spectre'' was first performed at the Theatre Royal, Drury Lane, on 14 December 1797. The ori ...

'' by Matthew Lewis (1797) * Oliver in ''

Knave or Not? ''Knave or Not?'' is a 1798 comedy play by the British writer Thomas Holcroft. The original Drury Lane cast included John Palmer as Monsrose, Richard Wroughton as Sir Guy Taunton, Richard Suett as Sir Job Ferment, Ralph Wewitzer as Mr Taunton, ...

'' by

(1798) * Clifton in ''

A Word for Nature ''A Word for Nature'' is a 1798 comedy play by the British writer Richard Cumberland. It is also known by the alternative title of ''The Passive Husband''. The original Drury Lane cast included James Aickin as Lord Glenadry, Richard Suett as Si ...

'' by

(1798) * Clermont in '' Indiscretion'' by Prince Hoare (1800) * Father Cyprion in '' Adelmorn, the Outlaw'' by Matthew Lewis (1801) * Colonel Anson in '' The Vindictive Man'' by

(1806)

References

Bibliography

* Highfill, Philip H, Burnim, Kalman A. & Langhans, Edward A. ''A Biographical Dictionary of Actors, Actresses, Musicians, Dancers, Managers, and Other Stage Personnel in London, 1660-1800: Abaco to Belfille''. SIU Press, 1973. 18th-century English people English male stage actors British male stage actors 18th-century English male actors 18th-century British male actors 19th-century English male actors 19th-century British male actors 1759 births 1830 deaths People from Taunton {{UK-actor-stub