Claim: William Shakespeare was a German actor.
Evidence: William Shakespeare -LRB- -LSB- ˈʃeɪkspɪə -RSB- 26 April 1564 -LRB- baptised -RRB- -- 23 April 1616 -RRB- was an English : poet , : playwright , and actor , widely regarded as the greatest writer in the English language and the world 's pre-eminent dramatist.
Shakespeare was born and brought up in Stratford-upon-Avon , Warwickshire.