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He was so famous that when he decided to retire in 1598, he was called back to the world of entertainment by Queen Elizabeth herself. He ultimately made his comeback in 1604. He was an excellent reformer of ideas as far as the stage performances of the Elizabethan period is concerned. Edward Alleyn's height of success can be exemplified by only one incident. Ben Jonson, who was infamous for criticizing even the most successful artists of that age, praised the talent of Edward Alleyn . Thomas Heywood also called him "the best of actors". Edward Alleyn married Joan Woodward who was the daughter of Philip Henslowe.
Through this marriage and inheriting his father's property he became the owner of many theaters in England. The list included Rose Theater at Bankside, the Paris Garden, and the Fortune Theater in St. Luke's. The life of Edward Alleyn is full of surprising events like once he baited a lion before James the first. Edward Alleyn was childless throughout the twenty years of his married life. It is said that Edward Alleyn once suggested to Shakespeare to change the title of Shakespeare's play Romeo and Juliet. But he redeemed himself for doing that.
Edward Alleyn married for the second time after his first wife's death. Edward Alleyn's second wife was the daughter of the great English poet John Donne. The name of his second wife was Constance. Edward Alleyn also founded a college. Edward Alleyn died in the month of November in 1626 in the chapel inside the premises of the college he had founded. Edward Alleyn had become the member of the corporation of wardens of St. Saviour's. There is still a window in the cathedral dedicated to his name. Edward Alleyn has always been a popular figure in English aristocratic society. His character was played by Ben Affleck in the Hollywood movie Shakespeare in Love.
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