Ludwig Devrient

He joined a travelling theatrical company, and made his first appearance on the stage at Gera as the messenger in Schiller's Braut von Messina.

By the interest of Count Brühl, he appeared at Rudolstadt as Franz Moor in Schiller's Die Räuber, so successfully that he obtained a permanent engagement at the ducal theatre in Dessau, where he played until 1809.

Falstaff, Franz Moor (in Die Räuber), Shylock, King Lear and Richard II were among his best parts.

Karl von Holtei in his Reminiscences gave a graphic picture of him and the "demoniac fascination" of his acting.

Karl August Devrient (1797–1872) was popular in heroic and character roles such as Lear, Shylock, and Faust.