Re-Entry.mp3
IRA ALDRIDGE
1805-1867
The first Black American to become a Famous Actor
Ira Aldridge was born in New York City. As a child, he would view plays at the Park Theatre from the high balcony. His first professional acting experience was in the early 1820s with an African-American Theatre, the African Grove. Because of the constant discrimination black actors suffered, Aldridge moved to England.
In England, he started out working as a dresser to Henry Wallack. But was soon seen on stage. Many had heard of the African Theatre because of a famous British actor, Charles Matthews, so Aldridge started associating himself with it. Audiences expected him to be a comedic actor, because of what they had heard from Matthews, but Aldridge changed what was expected. Reviewers were stunned with his performances. One critic wrote, “In Othello (Aldridge) delivers the most difficult passages with a degree of correctness that surprises the beholder." Aldridge continued to work his way up the ladder of success, gaining larger and larger roles. Aldridge had made such a name for himself, that he even started playing roles that were previously specifically white characters. Ira Aldridge toured around Europe, and even Russia, performing for many nobles along the way.
Shortly after arriving in England, he married Margaret Gill. They were married for 40 years. After her death, he married his mistress from Sweden. They already had a son together, Ira Daniel, and had four more children. He spent most of his last years in Russia and continental Europe with his family. He had planned to return to the United States after the Civil War, but died before he could.
Some of Ira Aldridge’s known roles:
Othello in Othello
Romeo in Romeo and Juliet
Hamlet in Hamlet
Richard in Richard III
Shylock in The Merchant of Venice
King Lear in King Lear
Oronoko in A Slave’s Revenge
Gambia in The Slave
Rolla in Pizzaro
Major roles in The Castle Spectre and The Padlock
Captain Dirk Hatteraick and Bertram in Bertram
