David Garrick
English actor, playwright, theater manager and producer
Years: 1717 - 1779
David Garrick (February 19, 1717 – January 20, 1779) is an English actor, playwright, theater manager and producer who influences nearly all aspects of theatrical practice throughout the 18th century and is a pupil and friend of Dr. Samuel Johnson.
He appears in a number of amateur theatricals, and with his appearance in the title role of Shakespeare's Richard III audiences and managers begain to take notice.
Impressed by his portrayals of Richard III and a number of other roles, Charles Fleetwood engages Garrick for a season at the Theatre Royal, Drury Lane.
He remains with the Drury Lane company for the next five years and purchases a share of the theater with James Lacy.
This purchase inaugurates twenty-nine years of Garrick's management of the Drury Lane, during which time it rises to prominence as one of the leading theaters in Europe.
At his death, three years after his retirement from Drury Lane and the stage, he is given a lavish public funeral at Westminster Abbey where he is laid in Poets' Corner.
As an actor, Garrick promotes realistic acting that departs from the bombastic style that was entrenched when Garrick first came to prominence.
His acting delights many audiences and his direction of many of the top actors of the English stage influences their styles as well.
Furthermore, during his tenure as manager of Drury Lane, Garrick seeks to reform audience behavior.
While this leads to some discontent among the theatergoing public, many of his reforms eventually do take hold.
In addition to audiences, Garrick seeks reform in production matters, bringing an overarching consistency to productions that include set design, costumes and even special effects.
Garrick's influence extends into the literary side of theater as well.
Critics are almost unanimous in saying he was not a good playwright, but his work in bringing Shakespeare to contemporary audiences is notable.
In addition, he adapted many older plays in the repertoire that might have been forgotten.
These included many plays of the Restoration era.
Indeed, while influencing the theater towards a better standard he also gained a better reputation for theater folk.
This accomplishment led Samuel Johnson to remark that "his profession made him rich and he made his profession respectable."
