Richard Bell (actor)

Richard Bell (died 1672) was an English stage actor. He joined the King's Company based at the Theatre Royal, Drury Lane in 1668. Considered a promising actor he appeared in the premieres of two plays by John Dryden and William Wycherley's debut Love in a Wood. His career was cut short when he was killed in a fire that destroyed the Drury Lane theatre in January 1672.^[1] A planned role for him in Wycherley's new play The Gentleman Dancing Master had to be cut.^[2]

Selected roles

• Frapolo in The Sisters by James Shirley (1668)
• Christophero in The Island Princess by John Fletcher (1668)
• Amariel in Tyrannick Love by John Dryden (1669)
• Honorius in The Roman Empress by William Joyner (1670)
• Duke of Arcos in The Conquest of Granada by John Dryden (1670)
• Sanco in The Generous Enemies by John Corye (1671)
• Vincent in Love in a Wood by William Wycherley (1671)
• Julius Caesar in Julius Caesar by William Shakespeare (1672)

References

1. Wilson p.14
2. McCarthy p.49

Bibliography

• McCarthy, B. Eugene. William Wycherley: A Biography. Ohio University Press, 1979.
• Van Lennep, W. The London Stage, 1660-1800: Volume One, 1660-1700. Southern Illinois University Press, 1960.
• Wilson, John Harold. Mr. Goodman the Player. University of Pittsburgh Press, 1964.