William Powell (English actor) facts for kids
William Powell (1735–1769) was a famous English actor. He was known for his amazing performances on stage during the 1760s. He became very popular in a short time, performing in London and Bristol.
Contents
Early Life and Acting Dreams
William Powell was born in Hereford, England. He went to school in Hereford and then to Christ's Hospital in London. After school, he started working for Sir Robert Ladbrooke, a businessman.
But William wasn't interested in business. He loved acting! He joined a secret acting club, but Sir Robert found out and stopped it. Luckily, another actor named Charles Holland introduced William to the very famous actor David Garrick. Garrick was planning to travel and needed someone to take his place on stage. This was William's big chance!
Becoming a Star at Drury Lane
David Garrick helped William Powell learn how to act. William made his first appearance at the Drury Lane Theatre on October 8, 1763. He played a character named Philaster. He was a huge success! People loved his acting, and the theatre made a lot of money from ticket sales, just like when Garrick himself performed.
When Garrick returned in 1765, William continued to expand the types of roles he could play. In 1767, William joined with other theatre managers to buy the Covent Garden Theatre. This was a big step for him in the theatre world.
Popularity in Bristol
William Powell also became a favorite actor in Bristol. On August 13, 1764, he performed as King Lear at the Jacob's Well Theatre there.
Later, a new theatre called the King Street Theatre was built in Bristol. William helped with this project. It opened on May 30, 1766. William performed in the play The Conscious Lovers. David Garrick even wrote a special introduction for William to speak on opening night.
Performances at Covent Garden
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On September 14, 1767, William spoke a special poem to open the new season at Covent Garden Theatre. Two days later, he played Jaffier in the play Venice Preserved. William lived right next to the theatre, which made it easy for him to get to work!
During this time, there was a disagreement among the theatre managers. William sided with George Colman, another manager. William's last performance in London was on May 26, 1769, when he played Cyrus in a play called Cyrus.
Sad End and Legacy
William Powell's very last performance was on May 31, 1769, in Bristol, where he played Jaffier again. The next day, he caught a bad cold while playing cricket. His illness became very serious.
To help him rest, the streets near his house were even closed to carriages. On July 3, 1769, William Powell sadly passed away at only 34 years old. The theatre performances were stopped to honor him.
William was buried in Bristol Cathedral. Many people from the theatre, including his friends and fellow actors, attended his funeral. A special performance was held later to help his family, and many people wore black to show their respect. A monument was placed in the cathedral by his wife to remember him.
Family Life
William Powell married Miss Branston in 1759. His wife also tried acting in Bristol, but she didn't become famous in London. After William passed away, she married again. William had daughters who later became part-owners of the Covent Garden Theatre.
