Ludwig Geyer

Ludwig Heinrich Christian Geyer (21 January 1779 – 30 September 1821) was a German actor, playwright, and painter.

Born in Eisleben, he was the stepfather of composer Richard Wagner, whose biological father had died some six months after his birth.

Geyer turned his hobby to his profession and earned the living expenses for his family by selling small portrait paintings.

[3] In 1809, Geyer joined the well known Secondasche Gesellschaft in Leipzig, whose members were given the rank of court actors.

In 1814, his theatre company became part of the royal ensemble in Dresden where he made a friendship with Carl Maria von Weber.