Richard Burbage portrayed parts.
Richard Burbage . He excelled in plays with the theme of tragedies . He played the title role in the first performances of many of Shakespeare 's plays , including Hamlet , Othello , Richard III , and King Lear . But he was in great demand and also appeared in the plays of many of the great contemporary writers , such as Ben Jonson ( the title role in Volpone , and Subtle in The Alchemist ) , John Marston ( The Malcontent ) , John Webster ( The Duchess of Malfi ) and Beaumont and Fletcher ( The Maid 's Tragedy ) . Burbage 's power and scope as an actor is revealed in the sheer size of the roles he played .