This Greek poet from the sixth century B.C. reputedly originated Greek tragedy; after his name certain actors are named. Who was he?

In the dramatic festivals of ancient Athens, performances once consisted of a large chorus singing and dancing epic stories, often in honor of the god Dionysus. This all changed in the sixth century B.C. when a poet is said to have taken a revolutionary step. He separated himself from the chorus to portray an individual character, using masks to differentiate roles and engaging in spoken dialogue with the chorus leader. This act of impersonation, rather than simple narration, created the first-ever actor and established the basic framework for dramatic tragedy.

The impact of this innovation was so profound that the poet's name became synonymous with the art of acting itself. To this day, actors are commonly referred to as "thespians" in his honor. While much of his life is shrouded in legend, his legacy as the father of Greek drama is cemented in our language, a timeless tribute to the man who first stepped onto a stage to pretend to be someone else.