Richard Burbage

Richard Burbage was one of William Shakespeare's actors who performed in all of his plays. When he and Will Kempe saw a Carrionite in the Globe Theatre they decided not to tell anyone, knowing they would be sent to Bedlam Royal Hospital if they did. (DW: The Shakespeare Code)

After seeing Burbage in the debut performance of King Lear, the First Doctor considered him a good actor, if "rubbish at portraying old men crushed by the delicious uncertainties of life". (PDA: Byzantium!)