Charles Kean

Charles Kean ( born January 18, 1811 in Waterford, Ireland, † January 22, 1868 in Liverpool ) was an English actor.

Kean was the son of actor couple Edmund Kean and Mary Chambers. He spent his school years in Worplesdon and Greenford ( near Harrow). Then he enrolled at Eton College.

With the help of his father Kean was 1827 at the Dury Lane theater debut; but he fell through it. This not discouraged, he played in the coming years in many provincial theaters and could still win in this way over time, the enthusiasm of the audience. Between 1830 and 1833 undertook an extensive tour Kean by the United States, where he increasingly played to packed houses and was able to achieve great success. Other guest performances in the United States, he undertook in 1839, 1846 and 1861.

As Kean had returned to the UK in 1833, he was engaged at the Covent Garden Theatre. There he developed in a very short time the most celebrated Shakespearean actor. With his interpretation of Hamlet, he set the standard. 1842 Kean married his colleague in London, the actress Ellen Tree ( 1805-1880 ).

1850 Kean took over the management of the Princess Theatre and held this office until 1859. At this stage, he naturally also acted as an actor. In 1863 he undertook a tour to and through Australia and toured one last time in 1866 in the USA ( California).