David Garrick
David Garrick (1717-79), British actor. He studied briefly under Dr Johnson and went with him to London in 1737. Garrick became famous for his tragic roles in Shakespeare’s Hamlet, Macbeth, and especially King Lear. His natural and unaffected style was completely new in his day and revolutionized English acting. He enjoyed uninterrupted success in both tragic and comic roles, and was a distinguished manager of the Drury Lane Theatre for 30 years (from 1747). The Garrick Theatre and the Garrick Club in London were both named in his honour.
