Actor. One of the greatest performers of the Elizabethan stage, he was rivaled only by Richard Burbage and praised by such authors as Ben Jonson and Thomas Nashe. He was particularly noted for his interpretations of Christopher Marlowe’s “Tamburlaine”, “Doctor Faustus”, and “The Jew of Malta”,  and Robert Greene’s “Orlando Furioso”.  Alleyn was born in London.  He probably began acting as a boy and by 1587 he was a fixture of the Admiral’s Men theatrical troupe.  In 1592 he married the stepdaughter of stage producer Philip Henslowe,  and inherited his business interests after Henslowe’s death in 1616.  This included ownership of the Fortune,  Rose,  and Paris Garden Theatres.  Alleyn used part of his considerable wealth to found London’s Dulwich College in 1619.  He is buried in the Old Chapel there. (bio by: Bobb Edwards)