Hamlet keeps to his words, and pretends to act mad to make himself a distraction until he can kill Claudius. He meets his father's spirit, who tells him to avenge his death, and to "remember him." He is informed by Horatio that Bernado had seen his father's ghost at night, and decides to go with them to see for himself. Despite the loss of his father, he become concerned of his mother's relationship with his uncle, Claudius, who took the throne (as he considered their marriage "incestuous"). He was returned home upon learning that his father had passed, and decided to stay for his funeral, and to comfort his mother. Before the events of the play, the reader learns that Hamlet is close friends with Horatio, and is in love with Lord Chamberlin Polonius' daughter, Ophelia. When reaching the appropriate age, Hamlet was sent to Wittenberg to continue his lessons. Hamlet is the son of King Hamlet and Queen Gertrude of Denmark, and was raised in their home alongside his uncle, Claudius. In Ophelia, he was portrayed by George MacKay ( Will Schofield). In the 2000 film, he was portrayed by Ethan Hawke, who also played Jake Hoyt, and James Sandin. In the 1996 film, he was portrayed by Mel Gibson, who also played Max Rockatansky, Martin Riggs, and Graham Hess.
In the 1948 film, he was portrayed by the late Lawrence Olivier. For stage, he was portrayed by famous actors: David Tennant ( The Doctor), Jude Law ( John Watson), Benedict Cumberbatch ( Doctor Strange), and Oscar Isaac ( Poe Dameron). The character has been portrayed by numerous actors on stage, and in many films.