Facts About the Bard

Everyone knows William Shakespeare, but just how much do you really know about the greatest English writer of all time? Even if you're familiar with his most famous plays, like Macbeth, Hamlet, and Romeo & Juliet, there's much more to the Bard than you probably realize. Did you know he was an actor? Or that his grave was cursed? Here are five interesting facts about Shakespeare you should know.

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1. Was an Actor

It might be hard to believe, but Shakespeare wasn't only a writer and playwright—he was also an actor. Back in the day, it was common for writers to act out their own plays, and Shakespeare was no exception. In fact, he likely started acting even before he got into writing!

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2. Introduced Around 3000 Words to English

If you've ever wondered why Shakespeare and his plays are so important and why they're regularly taught in schools, it's because he helped make significant leaps in the language. In particular, it's estimated that he introduced around 3000 words to English, which is credited by the Oxford English Dictionary.

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3. Had Seven Siblings

It's easy to think that Shakespeare was an only child, but he wasn't. In fact, he had as many as seven siblings, and he was the oldest surviving child. The first two children of John and Mary Shakespeare were girls who didn't live past infancy. Shakespeare had three younger brothers and two younger sisters.

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4. May Have Died On His Birthday

While it's not certain exactly what day Shakespeare was born, his birthday is often believed to be April 23, 1564. If this date is indeed correct, that means he unfortunately passed on his birthday at the young age of 52. Even to this day, the exact cause of his death remains unknown.

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5. His Grave Is Cursed

While it was initially dismissed as untrue, it seems likely that Shakespeare's skull was stolen from his grave by grave robbers. Ironically, Shakespeare had cursed his own grave to ward off anyone who disturbed his infinite sleep. In his epitaph, he'd written: "Good friend, for Jesus' sake forebeare/ To digg the dust enclosed heare/ Bleste be the man that spares thes stones,/ And curst be he that moves my bones."

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