Spacey views Special Collections during UB visit

Many people know Kevin Spacey as the manipulative Frank Underwood on the Netflix original series “House of Cards.” But he also is a highly regarded Shakespearean actor.

So, what does a bard do after delivering the final speech of the 29th annual UB Distinguished Speaker Series? Visit the University Libraries’ Special Collections, of course.

Spacey took a trip to the fourth floor of Capen Hall to view a copy of William Shakespeare’s First Folio, a collection of the playwright’s works and one of the most valuable printed books in the world.

The actor also viewed other objects and works from the Rare and Special Books Collection and Poetry Collection, including James Joyce’s cane, the second copy of Joyce’s first edition of “Ulysses” and the third edition of “Don Quixote.”

Spacey served as artistic director of The Old Vic Theatre Company in London from 2004-15, and several of his first stage roles were though Shakespeare in the Park, a theatrical program run by the Joseph Papp Public Theater.