John Heminges

Short Biography of the life of John Heminges - Elizabethan actor
The following biography information provides basic facts about the life John Heminges:

Nationality - English
Lifespan - John Heminges (1556 - 1630)
Acting Troupes: Member of the Chamberlain's Men and the King's Men
Career - Actor and financial manager of the Chamberlain's men
Famous for : Being the joint editor of the collection of William Shakespeare plays called the First Folio. He was believed to have played the part of Falstaff
He was named as one of the 26 actors who performed in the plays which were listed in William Shakespeare's First Folio
The First Folio was published in 1623 and contained approximately 900 pages containing 36 of the plays by William Shakespeare. It was entitled "Mr. William Shakespeare's Comedies, Histories & Tragedies"

The reputation of the early Elizabethan Actors was not good and any were viewed as no better than rogues and vagabonds - actors were not trusted. The standing of actors improved when the purpose-built theatres were introduced and some Elizabethan actors became the equivalent of today's superstars. An Elizabethan ballad mentions John Heminges as follows:

The perrywigs & drumme-heads frye like to a butter firkin
A wofull burneing did betide to many a good buffe ierkin;
Then with swolne eyes like druncken fflemminges
Distressed stood old stuttering Heminges.

Facts & History about the life of John Heminges - Elizabethan Actor
The following are additional facts about the life and history of John Heminges:

John Heminges was born in Worcestershire, England
He was baptized on November 25, 1566 in Droitwich, Worcestershire
In 1578 he was apprenticed to James Collins, a London grocer
In March 1588 John Heminges married Rebecca Edwards Knell, the 16-year-old widow of William Knell
- William Knell had been a famous player with the Queen's Men who had been killed by his fellow actor John Towne in 1587
John Heminges owned the only house which abutted to the second Globe Theatre and it is believed that this was used as an ale house
He died in November 1630

Documented facts about John Heminges - Elizabethan actor
The following documented facts related to John Heminges and his life as an Elizabethan actor together with details of his relationship with fellow actors including William Shakespeare.

The Lord Chamberlain's Men were licensed as the King's Men on 19 May 1603. The document lists "Lawrence Fletcher, William Shakespeare, Richard Burbage, Augustyne Phillippes, Iohn Heninges, Henrie Condell, William Sly, Robert Armyn, Richard Cowly" as members of the troupe.

On 15 March 1604 King James, Queen Anne, and Prince Henry rode through the City of London in a royal entry postponed from the previous summer because of the plague. An account by Sir George Home, who was Master of the Great Wardrobe, lists the names of "Players" who were each given four yards of red cloth apiece for the investiture of King James in London on 15 March 1604. The actors who were named were "William Shakespeare, Augustine Phillipps, Lawrence Fletcher, John Hemminges, Richard Burbidge, William Slye, Robert Armyn, Henry Cundell, and Richard Cowley."

In his will, William Shakespeare of Stratford-upon-Avon left a bequest "to my ffellowes John Hemynge Richard Burbage & Henry Cundell a peece to buy them Ringes."

The cast list for Jonson's Sejanus, performed in 1603, includes "Ric. Burbadge, Aug. Philips, Will. Sly, Ioh. Lowin, Will. Shake-Speare, Ioh. Hemings, Hen. Condel, and Alex. Cooke."

The 1616 Folio of Ben Jonson's Works contained cast lists for his plays. The cast list for Jonson's Every Man in His Humor, which was performed in 1598, includes "Will Shakespeare, Aug. Philips, Hen. Condel, Will. Slye, Will. Kempe, Ric. Burbadge, Ioh. Hemings, Tho. Pope, Chr. Beeston, and Ioh. Duke."

In the First Folio, John Heminges and Henry Condell stated that they published the Folio "onely to keepe the memory of so worthy a Friend, & Fellow alive, as was our Shakespeare, by humble offer of his playes."

The cast list for Jonson's Sejanus, performed in 1603, includes "Ric. Burbadge, Aug. Philips, Will. Sly, Ioh. Lowin, Will. Shake-Speare, Ioh. Hemings, Hen. Condel, and Alex. Cooke."

John Heminges
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