Charles Lee Lewes facts for kids
Charles Lee Lewes (born in 1740 – died July 13, 1803) was a famous English actor. He was known for his funny roles and for bringing characters to life on stage.
Contents
The Life of Charles Lee Lewes
Early Life and First Steps in Acting
Charles Lee Lewes was born in London in 1740. His father was a hosier, which means he sold stockings and socks. Charles went to school in a place called Ambleside. After school, he came back to London and worked as a postman for a while.
Around 1760, Charles decided to try acting. He started performing in smaller towns, learning his craft. About three years later, he began getting small parts at the Covent Garden Theatre in London.
Becoming a Star
His first really important role was playing Young Marlow in the play She Stoops to Conquer. This was in 1773, when the play first opened. For this role, Charles even delivered a special speech written just for him by the famous writer Oliver Goldsmith.
In 1783, he moved to the Drury Lane theatre. There, he took on well-known roles from Shakespeare's plays. These included Touchstone in As You Like It, Lucio in Measure for Measure, and even Falstaff.
Later Career and Challenges
In 1787, Charles left London and went to Edinburgh, Scotland. He gave special performances there, reciting poems like Cowper's "John Gilpin".
For a short time in 1792, Lewes helped Stephen Kemble manage the Dundee Repertory Theatre. The next year, he moved to Dublin, Ireland. However, he faced financial difficulties and was briefly held due to debts. While he was there, he spent his time writing his memoirs. These were published after he passed away by his son. He also wrote some short plays himself.
Charles Lee Lewes was married three times. The well-known philosopher George Henry Lewes was his grandson.
His Writings
Charles Lee Lewes wrote a few things during his life:
- Comic Sketches (published in London in 1804)
- Memoirs (published in London in 1805)
His Family
Interestingly, Charles Lee Lewes was also the name of George Henry Lewes's oldest son. This younger Charles Lee Lewes took care of his father's large collection of books after his father died in 1878.
