In his 1612 book 'An Apology for Actors' Thomas Heywood names the most notable players who have passed away. William Knell, John Bentley, Tobias Mills, Robert Wilson and John Laneham are great players from before his time whom he was never able to see himself, and Gabriel Spencer, John Singer, Thomas Pope, Augustine Phillips and Will Slye are players he has seem himself. He names Will Kemp as Richard Tarlton's successor. The only living player he praises in this passage is the retired Edward Alleyn.
| Name | Event Role(s) | Document Role(s) |
|---|---|---|
| Crosse, Samuel | player | |
| Mills, Tobias | player | |
| Laneham, John | player | |
| Slye, William | player | |
| Wilson, Robert | player | |
| Knell, William | player | |
| Bentley, John | player | |
| Phillips, Augustine | player | |
| Singer, John | player | |
| Spencer, Gabriel | player | |
| Tarlton, Richard | player | |
| Pope, Thomas | player | |
| Kemp, William | player |