Richard Burbage (c. 1567–1619) was a prominent English stage actor widely regarded as the leading actor of his time and closely associated with William Shakespeare. He was the son of James Burbage, a theatrical impresario who built some of the first permanent theatres in London, such as The Theatre and the Blackfriars Theatre. Richard Burbage became the leading actor in the Lord Chamberlain's Company, which later became the King's Men, Shakespeare's acting company
. Burbage was famous for originating many of Shakespeare's greatest tragic roles, including Richard III, Hamlet, King Lear, Othello, Macbeth, and Romeo. He was known for his powerful stage presence and excelled in tragic roles, becoming one of the first "star" actors in English theatre. Besides acting, he was also a theatre owner and entrepreneur, co-owning the Globe Theatre and Blackfriars Theatre. He inherited the Blackfriars Theatre and was involved in dismantling The Theatre in Shoreditch to reuse its materials to build the Globe Theatre on the south bank of the Thames
. He was described as short and stout but impressive, praised for his acting skills and the large roles he played. He acted not only in Shakespeare's plays but also in works by other playwrights such as Ben Jonson, John Webster, and Thomas Kyd. Burbage continued acting until his death in 1619 at about age 52. He was also a painter, known mainly for heraldic images, and may have painted some portraits, including possibly the famous Chandos portrait of Shakespeare
. In summary, Richard Burbage was a seminal figure in Elizabethan and Jacobean theatre, the foremost actor of Shakespeare’s company, a theatre entrepreneur, and a key influencer of early modern English drama
