Laertes / First Player — Hamlet Character Profile

About Laertes / First Player

Ophelia's brother who returns seeking vengeance for his father's death and his sister's madness. He conspires with Claudius to kill Hamlet in a rigged duel using a poisoned blade, but is fatally wounded by Hamlet during the fight.

Character Facts

Played by

Tim Pigott-Smith

Appears in

Hamlet (1970)

Role

Supporting

Relationships (4)

• Laertes / First Player — Family Father — Polonius (James Cairncross)

  Polonius is Laertes' father.

• Laertes / First Player — Family Sister — Ophelia (Susan Fleetwood)

  Ophelia and Laertes are brother and sister.

• Laertes / First Player — Alliance Ally — Claudius (John Woodvine)

  Claudius and Laertes form a deadly alliance to kill Hamlet.

• Laertes / First Player — Conflict Rival — Hamlet (Ian McKellen)

  Laertes seeks revenge against Hamlet through a rigged duel.

Explore the full interactive character relationship map of Hamlet

More characters from Hamlet

• Hamlet (Ian McKellen)
• Gertrude (Faith Brook)
• Claudius (John Woodvine)
• Ophelia (Susan Fleetwood)
• Polonius (James Cairncross)
• Horatio (Julian Curry)
• Guildenstern (Simon Prebble)
• Rosencrantz (Terence Wilton)