The following list compiles brief biographies of all professional actors with careers of reasonable prominence between the beginning of Queen Elizabeth's reign and the Restoration of King Charles II. It excludes school, university, inns-of-court, and chorister amateurs, but includes those in the transitional period of the Chapel troupe who became professionals within the Children of the Queen's Revels; individuals who were principally theatre musicians (e.g., Ambrose Beeland) have also been excluded. In compiling it I have relied, with gratitude, on similar lists and dictionaries by preceding scholars, attempting to reflect recent research as fully as I can. Birth and death dates are given where known; the abbreviation fl. (for the Latin floruit = flourished) indicates the period of ascertainable theatrical activity of a given subject.

ADAMS, JOHN, fl. 1576–88. Sussex's company as leading actor in 1576; founder member of the Queen's men, 1583, possibly still acting until 1591. Mentioned in Bartholomew Fair as comic stage partner of Tarlton.

ALLEN, RICHARD, fl. 1613. As performer with Children of the Queen's Revels, acted in Epicoene and The Coxcomb; possibly passed to Lady Elizabeth's company.

ALLEN, WILLIAM, fl. 1614–47. Leading actor with Queen Henrietta's company at the Cockpit from 1625, Allen had possibly been an apprentice or trainee under Christopher Beeston. Briefly a member of the King's men (by early 1641); a Royalist officer in the civil wars.