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David Garrick (1717-1779) was the most influential English actor, playwright and theatre manager of the 18th century. He is considered one of the most important actors and theatre personalities of all time.
Garrick was born on 19 February 1717 in Hereford, England. He showed an early talent for the stage and began his acting career in London, where he quickly became well-known and appeared in leading roles. His impressive acting range and innovative acting style made him an audience favourite.
In 1747, Garrick was appointed manager of the Drury Lane Theatre in London, where he introduced significant reforms. He set higher acting standards and introduced, among other things, the abolition of the then common practice of having male roles played by women. These reforms helped to shape modern English theatre.
Garrick was not only an outstanding actor, but also a prolific playwright. He wrote numerous plays, including The Clandestine Marriage and The Country Girl. His play A Christmas Tale inspired Charles Dickens' famous Christmas story A Christmas Carol.
David Garrick died on 20 January 1779 and was buried in Westminster Abbey in London. His funeral was the largest England had ever seen. Garrick's legacy as an actor, playwright and theatre manager has had a lasting impact on the art of acting. The method acting of Robert de Niro or Daniel-Day Lewis, for example, would not have been possible without him.
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