Worcester's Men

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.

See Gurr, Andrew The Shakespearian Playing Companies, Oxford UP, 1996.

Listed alphabetically

Alleyn, Edward
(1566-1626) (Allen). Actor (Worcester's 1583, Admiral's/Prince Henry's 1589-1606), entrepreneur. (Brother of John Alleyn; step son-in-law of Philip Henslowe) [ES ii, 296 [full citation] ; Greg_Dramatic_Documents i, 51 (1931) [full citation] ; JCS ii, 346 [full citation] ; Nungezer, 4 [full citation] ; McMillin, 'Jonson's Early Entertainments', 160 (1968) [full citation] ; Ingram, 'Globe Playhouse', 67 (1984) [full citation] ; Cerasano, 'Edward Alleyn's Early Years' (1987) [full citation] ; Eccles, 'Edward Alleyn' (1990) [full citation] ; McMillin, 'Sussex's Men' (1991) [full citation] ; Wills, 150 (1993) [full citation] ; Cerasano, 'Tamburlaine' (1994) [full citation] ]

Tamburlaine, 1 & 2 TAMBURLAINE; ?King Edgar, A KNACK TO KNOW A KNAVE; Barabas, JEW OF MALTA; Orlando, ORLANDO FURIOSO; Faustus, DR. FAUSTUS; Sebastian, FREDERICK AND BASILEA; Muly Mahamet, BATTLE OF ALCAZAR; Tamar Cam, 1 TAMAR CAM; he is often heralded as the greatest actor of his time.

Andrewes, Richard
(fl. 1583). Actor (Worcester's 1583). [ES ii, 299 [full citation] ; Nungezer, 14 [full citation] ]

Beeston, Christopher
(circa1580-1638) (alias Hutchinson). Actor ([?]Strange's; Chamberlain's 1598; Worcester's-Queen Anne's 1602-19; Prince Charles' (I) 1619-22; Lady Elizabeth's 1622-25; Queen Henrietta's 1625-37), sharer, entrepreneur. (Husband of Elizabeth Beeston; father of William Beeston; brother-in-law of James Sands (?); father-in-law of Theophilus Bird) [ES ii, 302 [full citation] ; Nungezer, 36 [full citation] ; JCS ii, 363; iii, 17 [full citation] ; Sisson, 'Notes', 26 (1942) [full citation] ; Sisson, 'Red Bull Company' (1954) [full citation] ; Freehafer, 'Brome, Suckling' (1968) [full citation] ; Haaker, 'Plague', 294 (1968) [full citation] ; Bawcutt, 'Craven Ord Transcripts', 91 (1984) [full citation] ; Eccles, 'Actors I', 39, 42 (1991) [full citation] ; Wills, 191 (1993) [full citation] ]

[?]Soldier "Envy", [?]Captain "Sloth," 2 SEVEN DEADLY SINS; principal actor, EVERY MAN IN HIS HUMOUR;

Browne, Edward
(fl. 1582-1599). Actor (Worcester's 1583; Admiral's 1599-1602). [ES ii, 304 [full citation]; Bentley, 'Shakespeare's Fellows' (1928) [full citation]; Nungezer, 59 [full citation]; Greg, Dramatic Documents i, 52 (1931) [full citation]]

Crymm, 1 TAMAR CAM;

Browne, Robert (II)
(d.circa 1622). Actor (Worcester's 1583; Netherlands 1586; Admiral's 1589; Europe 1590-1598, 1601-7, 1618-20), sharer (Whitefriars, Globe). (Husband of Cicely Sands Browne Robbins; father of Robert Browne (IV); brother-in-law(?) of James Sands; father-in-law of Robert Reynolds) [Yates, 'English Actors in Paris', 402 (1925) [full citation]; Bentley, 'Shakespeare's Fellows' (1928) [full citation]; Nungezer 60 [full citation]; Riewald, 'New Light', 70ff. (1960) [full citation]; George, 'English Actors' (1960) [full citation]; Schrickx, 'English Actors' (1980) [full citation]; Schrickx, 'German Archives', 150ff. (1982) [full citation]; Schrickx, 'Pickleherring', 135-7 (1983) [full citation]; MacLean, 'Leicester and the Evelyns', 491 (1988) [full citation]; Wills, 81 (1993) [full citation]]

Cattanes
(fl. 1603). Actor (Worcester's 1602/3). [ES ii, 310 [full citation]; Nungezer, 89 [full citation]]

Cooke, Thomas (I)
(fl. 1583). Actor (Worcester's 1583). [ES ii, 312 [full citation]; Nungezer, 103 [full citation]]

Duke, John
(d.1613). Actor (Strange's circa1590; Chamberlain's 1598; Worcester's 1602-3; Queen Anne's 1604-09. [ES ii, 314 [full citation]; Nungezer, 121 [full citation]; Greg, Dramatic Documents i, 45 (1931) [full citation]; JCS ii, 428 [full citation]; Sisson, 'Notes', 27 (1942) [full citation]; Eccles, 'Actors I', 47 (1991) [full citation]; Wills, 230 (1993) [full citation]]

Pursuivant "Induction," Soldier "Envy," Will Fool "Sloth," Lord "Lechery," 2 SEVEN DEADLY SINS; actor, EVERY MAN IN HIS HUMOUR;

Hamond
(fl. 1565). Actor (Worcester's 1565). [ES ii, 320 [full citation]; Nungezer, 174 [full citation]]

Harrison, William
(fl. 1583). Actor (Worcester's 1583). [ES ii, 320 [full citation]; Nungezer, 175 [full citation]]

Haysell, George
(fl. 1583). Actor (Worcester's 1583). [ES ii, 320 [full citation]; Nungezer, 179 [full citation]]

Heywood, Thomas
(circa1573-1641). Playwright, actor (Admiral's 1598; Derby's 1599; Worcester's-Queen Anne's 1600-19), sharer. [ES iii, 338 [full citation]; Bentley, 'Shakespeare's Fellows' (1928) [full citation]; Nungezer, 190 [full citation]; JCS ii, 472; iv, 553 [full citation]; Sisson, 'Notes', 27 (1942) [full citation]; McManaway, 'Latin Title-Page Mottoes', 33-4 (1945) [full citation]; Holaday, 'Thomas Heywood and the Puritans' (1950) [full citation]; Holaday, 'Heywood and the Low Countries' (1951) [full citation]; Sisson, 'Red Bull Company', 58-9 (1954) [full citation]; Grivelet, Thomas Heywood (1959) [full citation]; Freehafer, 'Seven Champions', 94 (1969) [full citation]; Nethercot, Elizabethan Plays, 801 (1971) [full citation]; Eccles, Authors, 66 (1982) [full citation]; Baines, Thomas Heywood (1984) [full citation]; Bergeron, Thomas Heywood's Pageants (1986) [full citation]; DLB 62: 101 (1987) [full citation]; Young, 'Thomas Heywood's Pageants' (1988) [full citation]; Eccles, 'Actors II', 459 (1991) [full citation]]

Holcrofte, William
(fl. 1599). Actor (Worcester's). [REED York, 486 (1979) [full citation]]

Holt, James
(fl. 1604-19). Actor (Worcester's-Queen Anne's 1602-19). [ES ii, 324 [full citation]; Nungezer, 195 [full citation]; JCS ii, 475 [full citation]; Eccles, 'Actors II', 459 (1992) [full citation]]

Jones, Richard (I)
(circa1560-1624<). Actor (Worcester's 1583; Admiral's 1589-96 (in Germany 1592-93); Pembroke's 1597; Admiral's 1597-1602; Germany 1602-24), Revels patentee (1610). [ES ii, 324 [full citation]; Nungezer, 207 [full citation]; Greg, Dramatic Documents i, 57 (1931) [full citation]; JCS ii, 486 [full citation]; Bowers, 'Shoemaker's Holiday' (1949) [full citation]; Riewald, 'Actors and Musicians', 36 (1959) [full citation]; Riewald, 'New Light', 75, 90 (1960) [full citation]; Schrickx, 'English Actors' (1980) [full citation]; Schrickx, 'Pickleherring', 140-44 (1983) [full citation]; Cerasano, 'Henslowe/Forman', 154 (1993) [full citation]]

?actor, ISLE OF DOGS; Priam, TROILUS AND CRESSIDA; Silvia, BATTLE OF ALCAZAR;

Kemp, William
(d.1603?). Actor (Leicester's 1585-6; Strange's 1592; Chamberlain's 1594-1599; Worcester's 1602-3), sharer. [ES ii, 325 [full citation]; Wright, 'Will Kemp and the Commedia Dell'Arte' (1926) [full citation]; Nungezer, 216 [full citation]; Gray, 'Roles of William Kemp' (1930) [full citation]; Baldwin, 'William Kemp not Falstaff' (1931) [full citation]; Gray, 'Shakespeare and Will Kemp' (1931) [full citation]; Bald, 'Leicester's Men' (1943) [full citation]; Feldman, 'Playwrights and Pike-Trailers' (1953) [full citation]; Mithal, 'Jesting Player' (1958) [full citation]; Bald, 'Jesting Player' (1959) [full citation]; Mithal, 'Mr. Kemp' (1960) [full citation]; Sjogren, 'Thomas Bull', 121 (1969) [full citation]; MacLean, 'Leicester and the Evelyns', 489-93 (1988) [full citation]; Eccles, 'Actors III', 293 (1992) [full citation]; MacLean, 'Politics', 180 (1993) [full citation]]

actor, EVERY MAN IN HIS HUMOUR; Peter, ROMEO AND JULIET; Dogberry, ADO;

King, John
(circa1575-1623<). Actor (Worcester's-Queen Anne's 1593-1623). [JCS ii, 492 [full citation]; Sisson, 'Notes', 28 (1942) [full citation]; Sisson, 'Red Bull Company' (1954) [full citation]]

?Lee, Robert
(circa1569-1629) (Leigh). Actor (Strange's circa1590?; ?Worcester's; Queen Anne's-Revels 1604-12, 1618), sharer, playwright(?). [ES ii, 328; iii, 407 [full citation]; Denkinger, 'St. Botolph Aldgate', 102 (1926) [full citation]; Nungezer, 235 [full citation]; Greg, Dramatic Documents i, 47 (1931) [full citation]; JCS ii, 496 [full citation]; Sisson, 'Notes', 28 (1942) [full citation]; Sisson, 'Red Bull Company' (1954) [full citation]; Eccles, 'Actors III', 296 (1992) [full citation]; Wills, 162 (1993) [full citation]]

Attendant, DEAD MAN'S FORTUNE;

Lowin, John
(baptized 9 December 1576 (St. Giles's, Cripplegate)—1653) (Lowen, Lowens, Lewin, Lowine, Lowing, Lowins, Lowyn). Actor (Worcester's 1602; King's 1603-52), manager, sharer. [ES ii, 328 [full citation]; Bentley, 'Shakespeare's Fellows' (1928) [full citation]; Nungezer, 238 [full citation]; JCS ii, 499 [full citation]; Riddell, 'Actors', 293 (1969) [full citation]; Bergeron, 'Actors', 24 (1972) [full citation]; George, 'Early Cast Lists' (1974) [full citation]; Bowers, 'John Lowin' (1987) [full citation]]

actor, SEJANUS; actor, VOLPONE; ALCHEMIST; CATILINE; VALENTINIAN; BONDUCA; QUEEN OF CORINTH; LOYAL SUBJECT; KNIGHT OF THE BURNING PESTLE; MAD LOVER; HUMOROUS LIEUTENANT; CUSTOM OF THE COUNTRY; DOUBLE MARRIAGE; WOMEN PLEASED; LITTLE FRENCH LWYER; FALSE ONE; LAWS OF CANDY; ISLAND PRINCESS; PILGRIM; SPANISH CURATE; SEA VOYAGE; PROPHETESS; LOVERS' PROGRESS; MAID IN THE MILL; LOVER'S MELANCHOLY; himself "Induction," MALCONTENT; Jacomo, DESERVING FAVORITE; Eubulus, PICTURE; Flaminius, BELIEVE AS YOU LIST; Belleur, WILD GOOSE CHASE; Domitianus Caesar, ROMAN ACTOR; Bosola, DUCHESS OF MALFI; ?Barnavelt, BARNAVELT;
In Wright's Historia Histrionica (1699) the following are ascribed to Lowin: Falstaff, 1 HENRY IV; 2 HENRY IV; Morose, EPICOENE; Volpone, VOLPONE; Mammon, ALCHEMIST; Melantius, MAID'S TRAGEDY; Aubrey, BLOODY BROTHER (at the Cockpit, 1648); Downes (Ros. Ang., p. 24) suggests also that Lowin played Henry VIII, HENRY VIII;

Pallant, Robert (I)
(circa1570s?—1619, buried 4 September, St. Savior's, Southwark). Actor (Strange's 1592; Worcester's-Queen Anne's 1602-13; Lady Elizabeth's 1614; Prince Charles' (I) 1616; Queen Anne's 1619. (Father of Robert Pallant (II)) [ES ii, 331 [full citation]; Bentley, 'Shakespeare's Fellows' (1928) [full citation]; Nungezer, 263 [full citation]; Greg, Dramatic Documents i, 48 (1931) [full citation]; JCS ii, 518 [full citation]; Eccles, 'Actors III', 299 (1992) [full citation]]

Warder "Induction," Attendant, Soldier, Dardan "Envy," Nicanor "Sloth," ?Julio "Lechery," 2 SEVEN DEADLY SINS;

Pateson, William
(fl. 1584). Actor (Worcester's 1584). [ES ii, 332 [full citation]; Nungezer, 266 [full citation]]

Perkins, Richard
(circa1579-1650). Actor (Worcester's-Queen Anne's-Revels 1602-22; King's 1623-25; Queen Henrietta's 1626-41). [ES ii, 332 [full citation]; Nungezer, 274 [full citation]; JCS ii, 525 [full citation]; Sisson, 'Notes', 28 (1942) [full citation]; Sisson, 'Red Bull Company' (1954) [full citation]; Haaker, 'Plague', 297 (1968) [full citation]]

?Brachiano, WHITE DEVIL (in which Webster singled him out for praise); Sir John Belfare, WEDDING; Fitzwater, KING JOHN AND MATILDA; Captain Goodlack, 1 FAIR MAID OF THE WEST; Hanno, HANNIBAL AND SCIPIO; Barabas, JEW OF MALTA (revival at Cockpit, for which Thomas Heywood opined that he was not as good as Edward Alleyn);

Powlton, Thomas
(fl. 1584). Actor (Worcester's 1584). [ES ii, 335 [full citation]; Nungezer, 287 [full citation]]

?Syferweste, Richard
(fl. 1602). Actor (Worcester's? 1602). [ES ii, 341 [full citation]; Nungezer, 345 [full citation]]

Thare, John
(d.circa 1612) (Thayer). Actor (Worcester's 1602-3; Germany 1603-6?), sharer. [ES ii, 346 [full citation]; Nungezer, 373 [full citation]; Sisson, 'Notes', 29 (1942) [full citation]]

Tunstall, James
(circa1555-1599) (alias Donstall, Donstone). Actor (Worcester's 1583; Admiral's 1590-1, 1594-7). [ES ii, 347 [full citation]; Nungezer, 381 [full citation]; Greg, Dramatic Documents i, 54 (1931) [full citation]; Ingram, Business, 25-30 (1992) [full citation]; Wills, 64 (1993) [full citation]; Eccles, 'Actors IV', 175 (1993) [full citation]]

Governor, Friar, FREDERICK AND BASILEA;

Underell
(fl. 1602). Actor (Worcester's 1602). [ES ii, 348 [full citation]; Nungezer, 384 [full citation]]