Edward Smith Willard
Encyclopedia
Edward Smith Willard was an English
actor. He was born at Brighton
and made his debut upon the stage at Weymouth in 1869. In 1881 he went to London
, and with Wilson Barrett
at the Princess Theatre played in The Lights of London, The Silver King, and other well-known pieces. In 1886 he made a hit as Jim the Penman
at the Haymarket
.
One of his greatest successes was his production of The Middleman by H. A. Jones
, at the Shaftesbury in 1889, he himself creating the part of Cyrus Blenkarn. He came to the United States
in 1890, and made his first appearance at Palmer's Theatre (later, Wallack's Theatre) in New York
, November 10, 1890, when he again acted in the powerful play of "The Middleman," by Henry Arthur Jones
, and the greeting that hailed him was that of earnest respect.
When Willard played the part of Judah Llewellyn for the first time in America, December 29, 1890, at Palmer's Theatre, he gained a verdict of emphatic admiration. Willard had long been known and esteemed, in New York, by the dramatic profession and by those persons who habitually observed the changing aspects of the Stage on both sides of the ocean, but to the American public his name had been comparatively strange. He sailed to England, then returned again to the United States in 1896, remaining till 1903, when he made 13 American tours.
In 1906, he retired from the stage, but returned on special occasions, as in 1911 for the gala performance at His Majesty's Theatre
, London, to play the part of Brutus in the forum scene from Julius Cæsar.
Edward Smith Willard was the uncle of Shakespearen actor Edmund Willard
and the great-uncle of children's author Barbara Willard
.
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
actor. He was born at Brighton
Brighton
Brighton is the major part of the city of Brighton and Hove in East Sussex, England on the south coast of Great Britain...
and made his debut upon the stage at Weymouth in 1869. In 1881 he went to London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
, and with Wilson Barrett
Wilson Barrett
Wilson Barrett was an English manager, actor, and playwright.With his company, Barrett is credited with attracting the largest crowds of English theatregoers ever because of his success with melodrama, an instance being his production of The Silver King at the Princess's Theatre of London.The...
at the Princess Theatre played in The Lights of London, The Silver King, and other well-known pieces. In 1886 he made a hit as Jim the Penman
James Townsend Saward
James Townsend Saward was a Victorian English barrister and forger also known by the nickname of Jim the Penman. In addition to his legal career he forged money orders for almost 30 years....
at the Haymarket
Haymarket Theatre
The Theatre Royal Haymarket is a West End theatre in the Haymarket in the City of Westminster which dates back to 1720, making it the third-oldest London playhouse still in use...
.
One of his greatest successes was his production of The Middleman by H. A. Jones
Henry Arthur Jones
Henry Arthur Jones was an English dramatist.-Biography:Jones was born at Granborough, Buckinghamshire to Silvanus Jones, a farmer. He began to earn his living early, his spare time being given to literary pursuits...
, at the Shaftesbury in 1889, he himself creating the part of Cyrus Blenkarn. He came to the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
in 1890, and made his first appearance at Palmer's Theatre (later, Wallack's Theatre) in New York
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
, November 10, 1890, when he again acted in the powerful play of "The Middleman," by Henry Arthur Jones
Henry Arthur Jones
Henry Arthur Jones was an English dramatist.-Biography:Jones was born at Granborough, Buckinghamshire to Silvanus Jones, a farmer. He began to earn his living early, his spare time being given to literary pursuits...
, and the greeting that hailed him was that of earnest respect.
When Willard played the part of Judah Llewellyn for the first time in America, December 29, 1890, at Palmer's Theatre, he gained a verdict of emphatic admiration. Willard had long been known and esteemed, in New York, by the dramatic profession and by those persons who habitually observed the changing aspects of the Stage on both sides of the ocean, but to the American public his name had been comparatively strange. He sailed to England, then returned again to the United States in 1896, remaining till 1903, when he made 13 American tours.
In 1906, he retired from the stage, but returned on special occasions, as in 1911 for the gala performance at His Majesty's Theatre
His Majesty's Theatre
His Majesty's Theatre in Aberdeen is the largest theatre in north-east Scotland, seating more than 1400. The theatre is sited on Rosemount Viaduct, opposite the city's Union Terrace Gardens. It was designed by Frank Matcham and opened in 1906...
, London, to play the part of Brutus in the forum scene from Julius Cæsar.
Edward Smith Willard was the uncle of Shakespearen actor Edmund Willard
Edmund Willard
Edmund Willard born 19 December 1884 in Brighton, Sussex, England – †6 October 1956 in Kingston upon Thames, England, was a British actor of the 1930s and 1940s....
and the great-uncle of children's author Barbara Willard
Barbara Willard
Barbara Mary Willard, a British historical/children's author, was born in Brighton, Sussex in 1909, the daughter of the Shakespearean actor Edmund Willard and the great-niece of Victorian era actor Edward Smith Willard....
.