Date of Birth: 
About Henry Compton (actor)
- Henry Compton (real name Charles Mackenzie) (22 March 1805 – 15 September 1877) was an English actor best known for his Shakespearean comic roles. Compton began his career in Shakespeare plays in the British provinces.
- He then began to specialize in low comedy roles in touring companies, where he played for over a decade.
- He first appeared in London in 1837 and joined the company at the Theatre Royal, Drury Lane in 1838, again playing in Shakespeare.
- Other notable roles that followed included Tony Lumpkin in She Stoops to Conquer, Gnatbrain in Black-Eyed Susan, Sir Peter Teazle in The School for Scandal and Foresight in Love for Love.
- By the early 1840s, Compton had earned the reputation of being the best Shakespearian clown of his age both in London and in the provinces.
- He performed for three years at the Princess's Theatre, London, famously playing Touchstone in As You Like It in 1844.
- He also played at the Olympic Theatre for three years, then the Royal Strand Theatre.
- In 1853 he joined the company at the Haymarket Theatre, where he originated roles in important new plays.
- He also won praise as Mr.
- Cox in revivals of Box and Cox. In the 1870s, he played frequently at the old Globe Theatre.
- One of his most famous roles was the Gravedigger in Hamlet, which he played often, including at the Lyceum Theatre with Henry Irving in 1875, his last London appearance.
- Compton's last role was in 1877 in Liverpool as Pangloss in The Heir at Law.
- After he became ill, his friends organised two star-studded and highly successful benefit performances for him in March 1877.
- In 1881 the 'Compton Comedy Company' came to the Lincoln Theatre Royal for one night.
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