Devrient, Ludwig (1784–1832), German actor, first of a famous 19th-century theatrical family. In 1814 he was engaged by
Iffland for
Berlin, where he became the leading German actor of the Romantic period, evoking comparisons with Edmund
Kean by his wild-eyed, unbridled, passionate acting. His rendering of King Lear's madness was celebrated, as was his incandescently evil Franz Moor in
Schiller's Die Räuber. He was also an excellent comedian, Falstaff in
The Merry Wives of Windsor being considered his finest part; he was also much admired as Shylock in
The Merchant of Venice and as Harpagon in
Molière's L'Avare.
His three nephews were all distinguished actors.
Karl (1797–1872) became a leading actor at the Court Theatre in Dresden, much admired as Hamlet and, later in life, as
Goethe's Faust, Shylock, and King Lear. His younger son
Max (1857–1929) was for many years at the Vienna Burgtheater. A handsome man of commanding presence, he excelled in big tragic roles, but could also play comedy, his Petruchio in
The Taming of the Shrew being much admired. Ludwig's second nephew
Eduard (1801–77) was an excellent actor but, overshadowed at Dresden by his younger brother
Emil (1803–72), took to directing, and also published some good translations of plays by Shakespeare. Emil excelled in tragic parts, to which his fine speaking voice and heroic gestures were well suited. His Hamlet was well received in London.
