Thomas Smith (actor) facts for kids
Thomas Smith was a British stage actor who lived in the 1700s. He was a popular performer on many stages. He died in the year 1766.
Contents
Who Was Thomas Smith?
Thomas Smith was an important actor in Britain during the 1700s. He performed in many famous theatres. He was known for his roles in various plays of his time.
Starting His Acting Journey
Thomas Smith began his acting career in the late 1600s. He first joined the acting group at the Theatre Royal, Drury Lane. This was a very famous theatre in London.
He also spent time performing at the Queen's Theatre in Haymarket. In 1715, he joined John Rich's acting company. This group performed at the Lincoln's Inn Fields Theatre.
Thomas Smith stayed with John Rich's company for many years. He performed there until 1728. Sometimes, he also acted in other places, like the Smock Alley Theatre in Dublin.
During his later years at Lincoln's Inn, another actor named Charles Smith was also in the company. Sometimes, people mixed up their roles because they had the same last name.
Moving to New Theatres
After leaving Lincoln's Inn, Thomas Smith moved to the Haymarket Theatre. He then went on to act at Goodman's Fields.
At Goodman's Fields, he joined Henry Giffard's acting group. He continued to perform with them until 1733.
A Family of Actors
Thomas Smith's daughter also became an actress. She made her first stage appearance at Lincoln's Inn Fields in 1716. It seems acting ran in the family!
Plays He Performed In
Here are some of the plays and roles Thomas Smith performed during his career:
- Cyaxeres in Cyrus the Great by John Banks (1695)
- Peter in Imposture Defeated by George Powell (1697)
- Brisson in The Unhappy Penitent by Catherine Trotter (1701)
- Phorbas in The Virgin Prophetess by Elkanah Settle (1701)
- Albazer in The Generous Conqueror by Bevil Higgons (1701)
- Ibrahim Bassa in Irene by Charles Goring (1708)
- High Priest in The Persian Princess by Lewis Theobald (1708)
- Numitorius in Appius and Virginia by John Dennis (1709)
- Rockerick in The Perfidious Brother by Lewis Theobald (1716)
- Pisano in The Traitor by Christopher Bullock (1718)
- Alucius in Scipio Africanus by Charles Beckingham (1718)
- Villeyor in Henry IV of France by Charles Beckingham (1719)
- Sir Julius Caesar in Sir Walter Raleigh by George Sewell (1719)
- Alcander in The Fatal Legacy by Jane Robe (1723)
- Alderman Quorum in The Beggar's Wedding by Charles Coffey (1729)
- Whim in The Fashionable Lady by James Ralph (1730)
