Robert Coates (actor)

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Robert Coates

Robert Coates (* 1772 in Antigua , † February 21, 1848 in London ) was a British actor who made it very well known due to his lack of talent. During his lifetime he was considered the worst actor in the world.

Life

Coates was born the son of a plantation owner and merchant. He grew up in England and was enthusiastic about the theater at an early age, but was not gifted as an actor. For years he tried to get a role. Especially taken had his role as Romeo in Shakespeare -Stück Romeo and Juliet . He often wore a jeweled Romeo costume.

In Bath he finally managed to find an engagement. His first appearance took place on February 9, 1810. His acting is said to have been so disastrous that he gained fame practically overnight. Spectators came to the theater in large numbers to see if the actor was actually as bad as was claimed. Because of this at least economic success, he was then employed in London. His appearances there were also successful in this sense. He became a star at London's Regency Theater and played in front of a sold-out house for a long time. He worked on Shakespearean dramas himself. If spectators laughed too loudly, he threatened to hit them. He spoke nonsensical texts off the cuff and interrupted scenes to address the audience directly. When he had to die on stage, he did it so awkwardly that the audience shouted da capo to watch him die again.

The economic success of his appearances also brought Coates financial gain. He had a rooster mounted as a coat of arms on his elaborately designed carriage . Among them was his motto As long as I live, I crow (Whilst I live I crow) .

He died in 1848 at the age of 75 when he was crossing a street in London in order to fetch a forgotten opera glass and was hit by a Hansom cab .

In an obituary praised him The Gentleman's Magazine as a great film star, his own opinion ( greatstar as an actor, in his own opinion ).

literature

  • John R. Robinson, Hunter H. Robinson: The life of Robert Coates, better known as 'Romeo' and 'Diamond' Coates. The celebrated amateur of 'fashion' . S. Low, Marston & Co., London 1891. (English; GBS-US )
  • Eerily beautiful smear theater . In: Carol Alway et al. a. (Arr.): Incredible but true. Amazing facts and strange incidents from all over the world. A book full of secrets . Special edition, Verl. Das Beste, Stuttgart a. a. 1989, ISBN 3-87070-338-5 , p. 533 f.
  • Edith Sitwell: English Eccentrics: A Gallery of Most Strange and Remarkable Ladies and Gentlemen . Publisher: Wagenbach, ISBN 3-8031-1192-7 .

See also

Individual evidence

  1. ↑ Eerily beautiful smear theater in Incredible but true , page 533
  2. ↑ The Gentleman's Magazin 1848, page 557

Web links

personal data
SURNAME Coates, Robert
BRIEF DESCRIPTION British actor
DATE OF BIRTH 1772
PLACE OF BIRTH Antigua
DATE OF DEATH February 21, 1848
Place of death London