Christopher Marlowe, a contemporary of Shakespeare, and the playwright responsible for Dr Faustus, having written many a bloody tragedy, had a tragic and bloody finale of his own when he was murdered in a bar room brawl, having been stabbed above his eye by Ingram Frizer.
Arthur Darvill who plays Mephistopheles, Dr Faustus' dark companion, is also famous as an other Doctor's companion - Doctor Who's (Matt Smith) companion Rory.