NOTE: The roles listed for any given actor do not necessarily coincide with roles that actor played while associated with this company. The listed roles reflect the complete extant corpus of that actor's career. Neither does the list necessarily suggest a chronology of performance. Though the listings are accurate, the scholar is nevertheless cautioned to research further.
The Admiral's Men date from 1585. It was in 1585 that their patron, Charles Howard, second baron Howard of Effingham (15361624), was appointed Lord High Admiral. He was first cousin to Anne Boleyn and married Elizabeth's cousin and confidante, Katherine Carey. The company he patronized inhabited various playhouses in succession: the Theatre, Newington Butts, Rose, and Fortune. Their business practice is the well chronicled thanks to Philip Henslowe's Diary, a diurnal account of the company and its players. Discovery in 1989 of the western three-quarters of the company's most famous playhouse, the Rose, has enhanced modern understanding of this company. In 2002 the remaining eastern portion was also uncovered, making the Rose the only playhouse foundation from the period to have been entirely unearthed. The Admiral's Company's chief actor was Henslowe's step soninlaw, Edward "Ned" Alleyn. The company technically changed its name to Nottingham's Men when in 1597 Charles Howard earned that title. Nevertheless, modern prejudice favors the title Admiral's Men from 1585 to 1603 when players came under the purview of the Royal Household and the company patronage was assumed by the Stuart heir apparent, Prince Henry. See also Prince Henry's Men and Palsgrave's (Palatine's) Men. After fire destroyed their playhouse, the Fortune, in 1621and after it was rebuilt in 1623the remnants of the company merged with the King and Queen of Bohemia's Men in 1626.
For detailed information on this company, see Gurr, Andrew The Shakespearian Playing Companies, Oxford UP, 1996.