Thomas Walker

Thomas Walker (1698–1744) was an English actor and dramatist.

He was the son of Francis Walker of Soho, London. At around the year 1714 he joined the Shepherd's company (perhaps the Shepherd who was at William Pinkethman's theatre in Greenwich in 1710). Barton Booth saw Walker in a droll, The Siege of Troy, and recommended him to the management of the Drury Lane Theatre.

In November 1715 Walker seems to have played Tyrrel in Colley Cibber's Richard III; on 12 December 1715 he was Young Fashion in a revival of The Relapse (John Vanburgh). On 23 September 1721 he appeared at Lincoln's Inn Fields as Edmund in King Lear, and he remained there until 1733. On 29 January 1728 Walker took on his major original part, Captain Macheath in the Beggar's Opera, and his reputation was established.

On 10 February 1733, at the new Covent Garden Theatre, Walker was the first Periphas in John Gay's Achilles. The last part in which he is mentioned at Covent Garden is Ambrosio in Don Quixote, which he played on 17 May 1739. In 1739–40 he seems to have been resting, but he played, 17 May 1740, Macheath for his benefit at Drury Lane. In 1740–41 he was seen in many of his major parts at Goodman's Fields Theatre. But after David Garrick's arrival at Goodman's Fields in 1741, Walker's name was taken from the bills and did not reappear until 27 May 1742, when the Beggar's Opera and the Virgin Unmasked (Henry Fielding) were given for his benefit. He seems to have played in Dublin in 1742 as Kite in The Recruiting Officer, with Garrick as Plume.

Walker's best serious parts were thought to be Bajazet, Hotspur, Edmund, and Falconbridge; in comedy he was best received as Worthy in the Recruiting Officer, Bellmour in the Old Bachelor, and Harcourt in The Country Girl (Garrick, after Wycherley).

Walker's first dramatic effort was to compressing into one play the two parts of Thomas D'Urfey's Massaniello. This work was produced at Lincoln's Inn Fields, 31 July 1724, with Walker as Massaniello. The Quaker's Opera, 1728, an imitation by Walker of the Beggar's Opera, was acted at Lee and Harper's booth in Bartholomew Fair. The Fate of Villainy, 1730, was given at Goodman's Fields Theatre on 24 February 1730 by Henry Giffard and Mrs. Giffard.

In 1744 Walker went to Dublin, taking with him the Fate of Villainy, which was acted there under the title of Love and Loyalty. The second night was to have been for his benefit. Not being able to furnish security for the expenses of the house, he could not induce the managers to reproduce it. He died three days later, 5 June 1744.