Richard Burbage

Richard Burbage was one of William Shakespeare's actors who performed in several of his plays.

When Burbage and Will Kempe saw a Carrionite in the Globe Theatre in 1599, they decided not to tell anyone, lest they be sent to Bedlam Royal Hospital, suspected of madness. (TV: 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." (PROSE: Byzantium!)

Behind the scenes

 * He was played by Martin Clunes in the film Shakespeare in Love.