biography
| name: |
Tarlton or Tarleton, Richard
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| sex:
| male
|
| lived:
| (?–1588)
|
| biography:
| English clown of humble origin and rudimentary education, who first performed with the Earl of Leicester's Men, but joined the Queen Elizabeth's Men on the formation of that company in 1583. He became the most famous and skilful popular entertainer of his age, especially in his improvization of doggerel verse and in the dramatic jigs which were a regular feature of the playhouses. He has been identified with Spenser's ‘Pleasant Willy’ and Shakespeare's Yorick. |
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