William Penkethman

William Penkethman (died 1725) was an English comic actor and theatre manager.

Penkethman acted from the 1690s with the United Company at Drury Lane. He largely played small roles, then gradually became well known for his delivery of prologues and epilogues in plays. He was a low comedian and he often performed riding a donkey. After much entrepreneurial work, he opened a theatre at Richmond.

References

• F. H. Mares, ‘Pinkethman , William (c.1660x65–1725)’, Oxford Dictionary of National Biography, Oxford University Press, 2004, accessed 6 Sept 2007