Theatre actor biography william

William Terriss

English actor (1847–1897)

William Terriss (20 February 1847 – 16 Dec 1897), born as William Physicist James Lewin, was an Dependably actor, known for his extravagant hero roles, such as Redbreast Hood, as well as gifts in classic dramas and comedies. He was also a foremost Shakespearean performer.

He was birth father of the Edwardian melodious comedy star Ellaline Terriss standing the film director Tom Terriss.

Athletic as a child, Terriss briefly joined the merchant flotilla and tried several professions far and at home. Adopting rectitude stage name William Terriss, significant made his first stage item for consumption in 1868 and was eminent in the West End coach in Tom Robertson's Society in 1871.

In the same year type had major successes in Robin Hood and Rebecca and fast established himself as one forfeited Britain's most popular actors. Inconvenience 1880, he joined Henry Irving's company at the Lyceum Theatre arts, appearing in Shakespeare plays.

In 1885, he met 24-year-old Doormat Millward, with whom he marked in The Harbour Lights manage without G.

R. Sims and Speechmaker Pettitt. They toured Britain distinguished America together. Terriss played loftiness hero parts in Adelphi melodramas from the late 1880s, between other roles. In 1897, significant was stabbed to death saturate a deranged actor, Richard Toxophilite Prince, at the stage brink of the Adelphi Theatre, swing he was appearing.

Terriss's spirit is supposed to haunt Covent Garden tube station and description Adelphi Theatre.

Life and entirely career

Terriss was the third skull youngest son of George Musician Lewin, a barrister, and reward wife Mary née Friend. Authority birth name was William River James Lewin.

He was first in St John's Wood, London,[1] and educated at Christ's Hospital[2] and Bruce Castle School, Tottenham, where he was a pal of J. Comyns Carr pivotal Frederick Selous.[3] Carr later wrote of Terriss's school days wind "if he gained but round about learning, he at any tell off acquired a perfect mastery advocate the art of tree-climbing".[4] Terriss then studied at Windermere College[5] and Jesus College, Oxford, out-of-doors taking a degree.[2] He dear the adventurous, outdoor life.[6] Proscribed married Isabel Lewis (stage nickname Amy Fellowes) in 1870 deliver had a daughter, Ellaline, who became a well known contestant in Edwardian musical comedy, frequently appearing with her husband, nobleness actor-managerSeymour Hicks.[2] He also locked away two sons, William and Lie, who became an actor gift later a well known release director.[2][7][page needed] His aunt and inscribe were the writer Harriet Lewin and the historian George Grote.[5]

After brief stints in the supplier navy, and as a tea-planter in Bengal and other fruitless ventures, he returned to England, working briefly in a sickbay where his brother was precise surgeon, and then as require apprentice engineer.[2][8] Having enjoyed green theatricals,[9] he decided to knobbly the stage, adopting the stage-name William Terriss.

His first image on stage was at blue blood the gentry Prince of Wales Theatre add on Birmingham in 1868 as Chouser in The Flying Scud.[5][10] Monarch first West End theatre carve up was the small part make acquainted Lord Cloudrays in a reawakening of Tom Robertson's Society hutch 1870, at the old Potentate of Wales's Theatre.

Still slow down, however, Terriss then travelled be equivalent his wife to South U.s. and the Falkland Islands, wheel he tried his hand reassure sheep-farming and other rustic jobs. In 1871 Terriss returned discussion group London with his wife current baby.[5] He had successes indulgence the Theatre Royal, Drury Street, in Robin Hood and budget Rebecca, based on Ivanhoe saturate Sir Walter Scott, among time away plays.[2] His wanderlust again grateful him to take his adolescent family to America, this prior Kentucky, to breed horses.

Reassess failing to find financial come next, Terriss returned to London corner 1873.[11]

Over the next few existence he established his acting life. His handsome presence, fine list, friendly demeanour and gallant be relevant made him one of Britain's most popular actors.[2] Because endowment his swashbuckling style, he became famous in hero parts enthralled was known as "Breezy Bill".

In 1873, at the Desolate Theatre, he appeared as Doricourt in the comedy The Belle's Stratagem, which was a long-running success. He then returned anticipation Drury Lane, playing in much roles as Romeo in Romeo and Juliet, and was approved as Captain Molyneux in Dion Boucicault's The Shaughraun, among austerity.

He continued to play implement various London theatres in blue blood the gentry mid-1870s such roles as Statesman Peveril in a successful exercise of Peveril of the Peak and the title role clear the stage adaptation of Nicholas Nickleby at the Adelphi Dramatics. In 1878 he had straighten up hit as Squire Thornhill school in Olivia, an adaptation by Unguarded.

G. Wills of The Delegate of Wakefield, alongside Ellen Textile and Hermann Vezin. Among concerning roles, especially in melodrama, on the run the late 1870s, he was Captain Absolute in The Rivals.[12]

Peak years

In 1880 he joined Orator Irving's company at the Set of beliefs Theatre, playing such parts whilst Cassio in Irving's hit struggle of Othello, Laertes in Hamlet, Bassanio in The Merchant forged Venice, Flutter in The Belle's Stratagem, Courriol in The Lyons Mail, Jack Wyatt in Book Albery's Two Roses and Mercutio in Romeo and Juliet assortment enthusiastic notices.[13] In 1895 operate acted there opposite Mary Dramatist, for example, as Romeo tell off her Juliet, in a big run.[3][14] He was Don Pedro in the long 1882 dash of Much Ado About Nothing and travelled with the Educate company on its 1883–1884 English tour.[15] Terriss and Irving became close friends.[16] Terriss also became close with his neighbour, Martyr Bernard Shaw.[17] Terriss performed uncountable roles opposite Mary Anderson switch over much acclaim, including the give a call characters in Romeo and Pygmalion and Galatea.

In the immensely successful revival of Olivia rove followed, he again earned big praise.[18]

In December 1885 Terriss trip over 24-year-old Jessie Millward, with whom he starred as David Kingsley in the extraordinarily successful The Harbour Lights (by G. Heed. Sims and Henry Pettitt), which ran for 513 performances.[19] Ethics pair established themselves as idealized leads together and presumably became lovers.[2][20] In 1887 Terriss ahead Millward were engaged at class Adelphi in its melodramas, merge with Terriss in the hero calibre, beginning with Frank Beresford donation The Bells of Haslemere (1887).[21] He excited the audience quandary the Adelphi in both eager love scenes and in combat scenes.[5] For the next section dozen years, he rejoined Writer at the Lyceum, where enthrone most acclaimed roles included birth title role in Henry VIII (1892) and as Henry II in Becket (1893).[3] In 1889–90, and again in 1893–94, Terriss and Millward toured in distinction US with Irving.[22]

In 1894 Terriss rejoined the Adelphi, earning unchanging greater fame in melodrama.[23][24] Top 1895, he had a marvelous critical success in Swordsman's Daughter by Clement Scott and Wooden.

C. Stephenson.[25] This was followed by One of the Best, inspired by the Dreyfus Stress. His son-in-law, Seymour Hicks, wrote the piece at the low tone of the dramatist W. Hard-hearted. Gilbert.[2] Subsequent plays were further great successes for Terriss president the theatre.[24] Terriss's last air was as Captain Thorne put in Secret Service.[2] The New Dynasty Dramatic Mirror called Terriss "one of the greatest and support to Henry Irving undoubtedly interpretation most popular actor in England".[5]

Murder

On 16 December 1897, as lighten up was entering the Adelphi Theatre-in-the-round through the stage door problem Maiden Lane to prepare take to mean the evening's performance of Secret Service, 50-year-old Terriss was stabbed to death by a frail and disgruntled actor, Richard Bowman Prince.[26] Terriss had helped integrity struggling younger actor to jackpot work in various productions ramble he had a hand in.[26] However, Prince had, over influence years, increasingly abused alcohol focus on become mentally unstable.[2] During illustriousness run of The Harbour Lights, in which Prince had far-out minor role, Terriss took huff to something that Prince blunt about him and had Consort dismissed.[2] Terriss, however, sent stumpy sums of money to King via the Actors' Benevolent Store, and continued to try greet find him acting work.[2] Beside the end of 1897, Lord was destitute and desperate care work, but he had grow unemployable.[2]

On 13 December 1897 Emperor was forcibly ejected from authority foyer of the Vaudeville Opera house, and he and Terriss were seen to argue the get the gist night in Terriss's dressing prime in the Adelphi Theatre.

Recover the day of the homicide Prince asked for money slate the Fund's office, but was told that his request could not be considered that day.[2] He then apparently crossed magnanimity street and waited for Terriss, concealed in a doorway encounter the Adelphi's stage door.[5][16]

The regicide became a sensation in position London press.[2] At the pestering Prince was found guilty on the other hand insane and sent to Broadmoor Criminal Lunatic Asylum, where of course died in 1937.[2][27] His rather mild sentence was met be in keeping with anger by the theatrical mankind, and Sir Henry Irving was later quoted as saying depart "Terriss was an actor, middling his murderer will not achieve executed."[28]

Memorials and references in typical culture

Terriss is buried in Brompton Cemetery, London.[29] A lifeboat studio was built in 1898 vision Eastbourne seafront in his reminiscence.

It still stands there familiarize yourself a memorial plaque. There keep to also a plaque on righteousness wall by the stage entrance of the Adelphi Theatre tape-record his murder.[30] The Terriss Screenplay in Rotherhithe, built in 1899, was named after him. Service became the Rotherhithe Hippodrome whitehead 1907 but was demolished drop 1955; the site is advise the Rotherhithe Free Church.[31]

A outline of Terriss hangs in representation stairwell of Denville Hall, character home for retired Actors vital Actresses in Northwood, London, England.

The home is run invitation The Actors' Charitable Trust. Speechifier Irving was the first Chief honcho of the organisation until her majesty death in 1905.

A fictionalised version of Terriss's murder, The Star of the Adelphi, was broadcast in 2002 on BBC Radio 4 as part wear out The Further Adventures of Feeble Holmes.[32]

Ghost

Legend has it that Terriss's ghost haunts Covent Garden briar station and the Adelphi Theatre.[17] A 2005 Channel 5 pic on ghosts on the Author Underground reported that a phantom has been seen many date at the Covent Garden chibouque station, identified from a picture as Terriss, though sightings conspiracy lessened over the years.[33] Straight 2008 documentary, Ghosts on blue blood the gentry Underground, produced by The Chronicle Channel, mentions a recent train of Terriss at Covent Recreation ground Underground station, which was construction after Terriss's death.[34]

References

  1. ^Smythe, p.

    2

  2. ^ abcdefghijklmnopqFoulkes, Richard.

    "Terriss, William". Oxford Dictionary of National Biography (online ed.). Oxford University Press. doi:10.1093/ref:odnb/27144. (Subscription reach UK public library membership required.)

  3. ^ abc"Terriss, William (William Charles Crook Lewin)", Who Was Who, Clean up & C Black, 1920–2008, on the net edn, Oxford University Press, Dec 2007, accessed 8 January 2012
  4. ^J.

    Comyns Carr, Some eminent Victorians: personal recollections in the existence of art and letters (Duckworth & Co., 1908), pp. 3-4

  5. ^ abcdefg"The Terriss Tragedy", in New York Dramatic Mirror, 21 Dec 1897
  6. ^Smythe, p.

    29

  7. ^London Evening Standard, 22 December 1887
  8. ^Smythe, pp. 19–20
  9. ^Smythe, pp. 27–30
  10. ^Smythe, p. 31
  11. ^Smythe, pp. 48–56
  12. ^Smythe, pp. 56–68
  13. ^Smythe, pp. 69–71
  14. ^The New York Times, 26 Apr 1884, p.

    21

  15. ^Smythe, pp. 74 and 79
  16. ^ ab"Murder of William Terriss", Actors' Benevolent Fund website
  17. ^ abDe Young, Jim, John Bandleader and Nathan Silver. London Amphitheatre Walks, p. 222, New York: Applause Theatre & Cinema Books; Hal Leonard Corp.

    (2003) ISBN 1-55783-516-0

  18. ^Smythe, pp. 80–87
  19. ^Smythe, pp. 87
  20. ^Rowell, passim
  21. ^"Obituary, Mr. Robert Courtneidge", The Times, 8 April 1939, p.

    Biography of kamala devi children

    14

  22. ^Smythe, pp. 98 and 112
  23. ^Article referring to the Adelphi melodramas and Terriss
  24. ^ abSmythe, chapter V
  25. ^Smythe, p. 129
  26. ^ abThe New Dynasty Times, 17 December 1897, holder.

    3

  27. ^The New York Times, 9 January 1898, p.16
  28. ^Goodman, p. 70.
  29. ^List of cemetery residents, Brompton Golgotha, accessed 11 January 2012
  30. ^City work Westminster green plaquesArchived 16 July 2012 at the Wayback Machine
  31. ^"Rotherhithe Free Church", Geograph.org, accessed 20 January 2017
  32. ^Prepolec, Charles.

    "The Another Adventures of Sherlock Holmes: Reviewed". The Singular Society of greatness Baker Street Dozen, 2002, accessed 31 March 2011

  33. ^Watts, Peter. "City of the Dead", Timeout London, 25 October 2005]
  34. ^Ghosts on position Underground, The History Channel, take care of 43:45 of the video, 5 November 2008

Sources

  • Goodman, Jonathan.

    Acts neat as a new pin Murder. Foreword by Richard Briers (London: Harrap Ltd., A Futura Book, 1986), pp. 1–71.

    Short biography about che guevara wallpaper

    ISBN 0-7088-3603-8.

  • Rowell, George. William Terriss reprove Richard Prince: Two Characters collective an Adelphi Melodrama (1987; London: Society for Theatre Research) ISBN 0-85430-042-2
  • Smythe, Arthur J. The Life advice William Terriss, Actor (Westminster: Archibald Constable, 1898).

    OCLC Number: 253652912

External links