William Blanchard (comedian) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
William Blanchard
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| Born | 2 January 1769 York, England
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| Died | 8 May 1835 (aged 66) Chelsea, England
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| Occupation | Comedian |
| Children | Elizabeth Blanchard, Edward Litt Laman Blanchard |
William Blanchard (born 1769, died 1835) was a famous English comedian. He was known for his funny acting and for playing many different characters on stage.
Contents
Early Life and Dreams
William Blanchard was born in York, England, on January 2, 1769. He went to a private school in York for a few years. Sadly, he lost both his parents when he was still a child. His uncle, William Blanchard, who owned the York Chronicle newspaper, took care of him. His uncle was very kind to him.
In 1782, William started working in his uncle's office. But he loved reading Shakespeare's plays so much that he decided to become an actor.
Starting His Acting Career
In 1785, William joined a group of traveling actors led by Mr. Welsh in Buxton. His very first role was Allan-a-Dale in a play called 'Robin Hood.' For four years, he used the stage name Bentley. But after 1789, he started performing under his real name, William Blanchard.
He played serious roles like Achmet, Douglas, and even Romeo. A writer from the European Magazine once said that William Blanchard was more promising than the famous actor John Philip Kemble had been years earlier. He said William had more energy and seemed more natural on stage.
Becoming a Comedian
After a while, William tried being a manager, opening theaters in places like Penrith and Hexham. But he lost money doing this. So, he joined Mr. Brunton's acting company in Norwich and started focusing on funny roles.
William made his first appearance in London at the famous Covent Garden theater on October 1, 1800. He played Bob Acres in a play and was very successful! He also played Crack in a musical comedy called 'The Turnpike Gate.' He was so good that the theater manager, Mr. Harris, quickly offered him a new contract for seven years with more pay.
William's first wife, Susan, passed away in 1807. They had four children, and one of his daughters, Elizabeth, also became an actress. In 1808, William married Sarah Harold. He later had two more sons, William and Edward, who also became actors.
William was especially good at playing certain types of characters. People said he was the best at playing a "drunken man" on stage! He stayed at Covent Garden Theatre for 34 years, except for a short trip to America in 1832. He was famous for his funny performances in Shakespeare's plays, like Fluellen, Sir Hugh Evans, Menenius, and Polonius. Many critics at the time praised his acting skills. His last new role was Counsellor Crowsfoot in a play called 'Nell Gwynne' in 1833.
Later Life and Passing
William Blanchard passed away suddenly on May 8, 1835, when he was 66 years old. He was buried in the graveyard of St Luke's Church, Chelsea. Because he was a member of the Covent Garden Theatrical Fund, his wife Sarah received money each year after he died.
Sarah lived for almost 40 more years, passing away in 1875. William's uncle, who had raised him, also passed away exactly one year and one day after William, at the age of 87.
Pictures of William Blanchard
There are several famous pictures of William Blanchard in his acting roles. Two paintings by an artist named De Wilde show him as Sir Andrew Aguecheek from 'Twelfth Night' and as the Marquis de Grand-Château.
Other well-known paintings include him in a scene from 'Love, Law, and Physic,' where he is shown as Dr. Camphor. He also appears in a painting of a scene from 'Beggar's Opera' as Peachum. You can also see him as Tony Lumpkin in a book about his son, E.L. Blanchard.
