One of the most popular playwrights of the 17th century, John Webster (1580?-1634?) was known for his particularly gory tragedies. Though he was by no means the only playwright to seek out macabre imagery and shock value, he was one of the most talented. After being largely neglected for the 18th and 19th centuries, his reputation rose in the 20th century, partly due to the rise of critics who focused on his verse’s imagery.

He makes a brief appearance in the movie Shakespeare in Love as a little boy who plays with mice, and who tells Shakey that he likes Titus Andronicus best because of all the violence. Since no likenesses of Webster have survived, the picture of his character in the film is used on this page.