In the glittering world of 19th-century theatre, where talent was prized and ridicule could end a career, one man defied convention and became a legend—not for brilliance, but for flamboyant failure. His name was Robert Coates, a wealthy amateur who believed that he was destined for the stage. And while audiences came in droves to see him, it wasn’t for his skill. They came to witness the greatest bad actor who ever lived.
Born in Antigua in 1772, Robert Coates was the only surviving child of a prosperous sugar planter. He was educated in England, and on returning home took part in amateur dramatics. When he inherited his father's estate and a large collection of diamonds in 1807, he moved to England, where he gained notoriety for his eccentric dress sense, diamond-studded wardrobe, and peculiar behaviour. But nothing prepared society for his foray into the world of acting.
Click Here to read more Amusing Planet
