var s_account="msnportalencartaau"; ninemsn Home Hotmail My ninemsn Sign in ... More Additional Reference Thesaurus Bilingual Dictionaries Sidebar Primary Resources Homework Resources Foreign Language Help Times Archive Literature Guides ... Project Starters Support Encarta Products Encarta Answers Encarta Worldwide Help Encarta Search Search Encarta about Aldridge, Ira Frederick Aldridge, Ira Frederick Encyclopedia Article Find in this article View printer-friendly page E-mail Aldridge, Ira Frederick (1807-1867), also called the African Roscius, the most highly esteemed black American actor of the 19th century. Aldridge earned international recognition as one of his era's finest actors for his theatrical performances throughout England, Scotland, Ireland, the rest of Europe, and the United States. He was born free in New York , the son of a slave turned Calvinist preacher. After training at the African Free School in New York, Aldridge saw limited theatrical opportunities in the United States and left for Europe in 1824. Intent on pursuing an acting career, he studied drama at the University of Glasgow Debuting onstage in 1825 at the Royal Coburg in London, Aldridge won widespread praise for his portrayal of Shakespeareâs | |
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