Richard Burbage was a prominent English actor and theatre owner during the late 16th and early 17th centuries. He is best known for his performances in the plays of William Shakespeare, with whom he had a close working relationship. Burbage was the first actor to portray many of Shakespeare's most famous characters, including Hamlet and Othello. In addition to his acting career, Burbage was a co-owner of the Globe Theatre, which became one of the most famous theatres in London. He played a significant role in the development of English theatre during the Elizabethan and Jacobean periods, helping to shape the art of acting and stagecraft.