Ira Aldridge - Actor

BORN NAME
Ira Aldridge
BIRTH DATE
1807
BIRTH PLACE
New York
OCCUPATION
Actor
DIED
Aug. 7, 1867,Lodz, Poland

Ira Aldridge was born in New York in 1807 and arrived in Britain at the age of 17 to further an acting career which was not at all succesful in America. He got a quick break in England performing on stage. he soon became a recognised name on stage gaining support from followers.

As things were looking up, he quickly married a yorkshire girl by the name of Margaret Gill. But this marriage done more harm than good, it only enraged pro slavery forces in London. Ira was shunned for a year and a racist campaign began. Ira had no choice but to turn to provincial theatres away from London. This decision did not hinder his performances. He went on to play Othello, Macbeth, King Lear, Shylock etc. Many of these parts had been written for white people in mind but Ira was confident enough to fit into character.

Ira left England in 1852 and performed in many European cities to great success. After being decorated with honours by the heads of europoean theatre, he returned in 1857. At the age of 69 Ira died on the 7th of August 1867 while on tour in Lodz, poland.

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