William Parsons (29 February 1736 â€" 3 February 1795) was a British
actor and painter in the mid to late eighteenth century. He appeared
mostly at Drury Lane and Haymarket in minor to supporting roles, but
also had prominent roles in plays like Volpone and Hamlet.Parsons was
born to William and Elizabeth (née Latter) Parsons in 1736. His
father William did carpentry work in Bow Lane, Cheapside and City of
London; his mother Elizabeth was from Maidstone.Parsons attended St
Paul's School where surveyor Sir Henry Cheere or Cheke was his
instructor. Parsons took part in amateur entertainment with William
Powell and Charles Holland. In 1756, Parsons played Kent in King Lear
in Haymarket.Parsons's first professional role was that of Southampton
in poet Henry Jones's Earl of Essex play in York. Most of his work
during this time was high comedy and tragedy. Under the guidance of
West Digges, Parsons acted at the Theatre Royale Edinburgh in 1757-8.
More roles soon followed for Parsons such as the role of Don Felix in
Wonder, Charino in Love Makes a Man, and Grigg in Beggar's Wedding.
actor and painter in the mid to late eighteenth century. He appeared
mostly at Drury Lane and Haymarket in minor to supporting roles, but
also had prominent roles in plays like Volpone and Hamlet.Parsons was
born to William and Elizabeth (née Latter) Parsons in 1736. His
father William did carpentry work in Bow Lane, Cheapside and City of
London; his mother Elizabeth was from Maidstone.Parsons attended St
Paul's School where surveyor Sir Henry Cheere or Cheke was his
instructor. Parsons took part in amateur entertainment with William
Powell and Charles Holland. In 1756, Parsons played Kent in King Lear
in Haymarket.Parsons's first professional role was that of Southampton
in poet Henry Jones's Earl of Essex play in York. Most of his work
during this time was high comedy and tragedy. Under the guidance of
West Digges, Parsons acted at the Theatre Royale Edinburgh in 1757-8.
More roles soon followed for Parsons such as the role of Don Felix in
Wonder, Charino in Love Makes a Man, and Grigg in Beggar's Wedding.
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