Nicholas Tooley facts for kids
Nicholas Tooley (born around 1583 – died June 1623) was an important actor during the Renaissance period in England. He was a member of the famous acting group called the King's Men, which was the company of the legendary playwright William Shakespeare.
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Early Life and Becoming an Actor
Nicholas Tooley was born in late 1582 or early 1583. His real name was actually Wilkinson. He used "Tooley" as his stage name, which was common for actors back then. In 1623, he even signed a legal document as "Nicholas Wilkinson, alias Tooley."
Tooley might have started acting when he was very young, possibly around 1591. He is thought to be the "Nick" mentioned in an old play script called The Seven Deadly Sins. If this is true, it means he began his career as a boy player. These were young boys who played female roles in plays, as women were not allowed to act on stage at that time.
He learned his acting skills by training with Richard Burbage, a very famous actor of the time. Tooley likely joined Burbage in the Lord Chamberlain's Men company when it was formed again in 1594. He was mentioned in a letter in 1603 and received some money in a will in 1605.
Joining the King's Men
In 1605, Nicholas Tooley became a full member, or "sharer," in the King's Men company. This meant he owned a part of the company and shared in its profits. He took the place of another actor named Samuel Crosse. Being a sharer showed that he was a trusted and important part of Shakespeare's acting group.
Roles Nicholas Tooley Played
We don't know all the specific characters Nicholas Tooley played, but we have some clues. His name appears next to lines in the original printed version of Shakespeare's play The Taming of the Shrew. This means he likely played a part in that play.
He was also listed in the cast for several plays by another famous writer, Ben Jonson. These plays include The Alchemist (from 1610), Sejanus (a play revived in 1610), and Catiline (from 1611).
Shortly before he died, Tooley played two roles, Forobosco and a madman, in a new production of John Webster's play The Duchess of Malfi.
His name is also found in the cast lists for 14 plays that were collected in a book called the second Beaumont and Fletcher folio in 1679. These plays include:
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While he didn't play as many lead roles as the biggest stars like Joseph Taylor or John Lowin, Tooley was clearly a very important and busy member of the King's Men.
Tooley's Will and Legacy
Nicholas Tooley was a close friend and colleague to many actors. He was one of the people who witnessed the will of Richard Burbage, his former teacher and a leading actor, in 1619.
When Tooley wrote his own will on June 3, 1623, he showed how close he was to the Burbage family and other actors in the King's Men. He named Henry Condell and Cuthbert Burbage as the people who would manage his will and receive most of his money.
His will included several interesting gifts:
- He left £10 to Cuthbert Burbage's wife, in whose house he was living when he died.
- He also gave £10 to her daughter.
- Another £10 went to Alice Walker, who was a sister of Richard and Cuthbert Burbage.
- Richard Burbage's daughter Sara received £29 13s. This was money that another King's Man actor, Richard Robinson, owed to Tooley.
- Henry Condell's wife received £5.
- Their daughter also received £10.
- Fellow King's Man actor Joseph Taylor received £10.
Tooley also forgave debts owed to him by two other members of the King's Men, William Ecclestone and John Underwood. This shows his generosity and the strong bonds between the actors in the company.
Nicholas Tooley was buried at St. Giles Church in Cripplegate on June 5, 1623.
