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He probably began his career as a member of the Earl of Leicester 's company, but his name first appears after the death of Leicester in a list of players authorized by an order of the privy council in 1593 to play 7 miles out of London. Ferdinand Stanley, Lord Strange, was the patron of the company of which Kempe was the leading member until 1598, and in 1594 was summoned with Burbage and Shakespeare to act before the queen at Greenwich.
He was the successor, both in parts and reputation, of Richard Tarlton . But it was as a dancer of jigs that he won his greatest popularity, one or two actors dancing and singing with him, and the words doubtless often being improvised. Examples of the music may be seen in the manuscript collection of John Dowland now in the Cambridge University library. At the same time Kempe was given parts like Dogberry, and Peter in Romeo and Juliet; indeed his name appears by accident in place of those of the characters in early copies. Kempe seems to have exhibited his dancing on the Continent, but in 1602 he was a member of the Earl of Worcester's players, and Philip Henslowe's diary shows several payments made to him in that year.
In the spring of (probably) 1599 Will Kemp undertook what he was later to call his "Nine Days Wonder" a somewhat bizarre excursion in which he morris danced from London to Norwich (a distance of over a hundred miles) in a journey which took him several months, often amid cheering crowds. In 1600 he published a description of the event in order to prove to doubters that it was true.
In the 19981998 was a common year starting on Thursday (see link for calendar), and was designated the International Year of the Ocean''. Events January January 1998 A massive ice storm, caused by El Nino, strikes New England, southern Ontario and Quebec, resulting John MaddenThere are a number of noted individuals named John Madden John Madden (football) is a legendary football coach and football announcer. John Madden (director) is an English director of theater, film, television, and radio. John Madden (hockey player) is a film Shakespeare in LoveShakespeare in Love (1998) is a movie (written by Marc Norman and Tom Stoppard, directed by John Madden), starring Joseph Fiennes (as William Shakespeare) and Gwyneth Paltrow. It was nominated for 13 Academy Awards, and won seven, including Best Picture. Kempe was played by veteran character actor Patrick Barlow .
Much of this entry was originally from the 1911 Encyclopedia Britannica.