Will Kemp

Will Kemp was an English clown in the sixteenth century. He was a full member of the acting troupe Lord Westmoreland's Men (later The Queen's Men). Kemp played the comic roles in most of William Shakespeare's plays. He was the gravedigger in Prince of Denmark and played a Roman soldier in Boudicca. Following the debut of Boudicca, Kemp took part in the popular uprising which stormed the Tower of London and liberated Queen Elizabeth.

He was generally an agreeable character and was counted as a friend by Shakespeare, Christopher Marlowe, and Lope de Vega. However, he periodically quarrelled with Richard Burbage.