Famous Melodrama Actors and Actresses

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Famous Melodrama Actors and Actresses
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Sir Henry Irving

• Born in Somerset, 1838
• 19th Century actor
• He began his acting career in 1856, appearing
  with various provincial Stock companies.
• During the following ten years he played over 600
  parts
• By 1866 he was established in London
• Another five years later he found over night fame
  in The Bells

• In 1895 he became the first actor to be knighted
  for his achievements
• Sadly his mum didnt live to witness any of his
  success
• he was at the forefront in the development of
  gaslight for his spectacular productions of
  Shakespeare and Romantic Melodrama at the Royal
  Lyceum Theatre, London between 1871 and 1902
• During this period and until 1902 Ellen Terry was
  his leading lady
• He planned to retire in 1906, after celebrating
  50 years on the stage
• His sudden death on October 13th 1905 shocked and
  saddened the nation

By Leanne Corliss
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Ellen Terry

• Born in Coventry, 1847
• Ellen never went to school and at the age of
  eight appeared as Mammilius in The Winter's Tale
  at the Prince's Theatre in London
• After a brief marriage to the painter, George
  Frederick Watts in 1864, Terry established
  herself as Britain's leading Shakespearean
  actress
• In 1878 she formed a partnership with Henry
  Irving at the Lyceum, where he became
  actor-manager
• She dominated English theatre for over twenty
  years
• In 1903 Terry went into theatre management and
  with her son helped to popularize the work of
  Henrik Ibsen and George Bernard Shaw.
• Ellen Terry, who slowly sank into blindness, died
  in 1928.

By Leanne Corliss
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Joseph Jefferson

• Born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania February 20th
  1829
• He appeared in the theater at a early age, given
  the name of a babe in arms his first
  performance was in Washington D.C at the
  Washington Theatre were he sang Jump Jim Crow
  for the Minstrel Thomas.D Rice.
• His father died when he was 13, so his acting
  jobs contributed to the household needs. Once he
  was old enough he had saved up enough money to
  travel to Europe in November 1856, then he joined
  a acting company Laura Keenes Company

• Later on Jefferson joined a dramatic performance
  of the story" Rip Van Winkle he continued acting
  in this show for over 40 years
• Jefferson was the only man in his profession
  honored most about his achievements and his
  character. Due to all of his amazing achievements
  with Rip Van Winkle he was given a replacement
  name of" one-part actor
• Sadly he died on April 23 1905 in Palm Beach
  Florida
• By Melanie Cottrell

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Edwin Booth

• Born 13th of November 1833
• Edwin followed in the foot steps of his father
  Junius Brutus Booth who also was a famous Actor
• His first few performances were along the
  sideline of his father starring as Tressel in
  Richard III
• In 1852 Edwin had his first starring role as
  Richard due to the death of his Father
• Edwin and His brother Junius.Jr performed Julius
  Caesar in 1864 this was the first and last time
  Edwin and his brother performed together. The
  funds went toward the Statue of William
  Shakespeare that still stands in Central Park.
• Later on Edwin commenced a production of Hamlet
  also know as Hundred nights Hamlet this was
  performed 101 times
• From 1863 to 1867 Edwin managed several plays at
  the Winter Garden Theater mainly staging
  Shakespearean Tragedies
• After the fire at The Winter Garden Theater Booth
  built his very own Theater called the Booths
  theater" on the 3rd of February 1869
• Died 7th of June 1893
• By Melanie Cottrell

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Charlotte Cushman

• Born July 23rd 1816 in Boston Massachusetts
• Her mother encouraged chores around the house, so
  she attempted being a maid, figured it wasnt for
  her so took up acting.
• Making her stage debut In Boston in 1835 in the
  Opera The Marriage of Figaro. Following year
  debuted as Lady McBeth
• Charlotte and her younger sister Susan became
  famous for there Romeo and Juliet
• Cushman began to have a romance with Rosalie
  Sully in 1843 ending in 1844
• Cushman had many relationships over the next 18
  years with several women
• Sadly she was diagnosed with breast cancer ,
  being the proud confident women she was, she
  ignored the cancer and continued to act.
• She died in Boston 1876 at the age of 59 of
  pneumonia
• In 1915 she was elected New York University hall
  of Fame

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Adelaide Ristori

• Born 29th in January 1822 in Cividale De Friuli
• At 14 she made her first success as Francesca da
  Rimini in Silvo Pellicos
• At 18 she was playing Mary Stuart an Italian
  version of Friedrich Schillers play
• 1855 she made a professional visit to Paris where
  she played the role Francesca

• A tour then followed in 1956 visiting Paris,
  London, Madrid and many more playing to
  enthusiastic Spanish audiences
• 1866 she paid her first visit to the United
  States of America were she won much a plause in
  Paolo Giacomettis Elisabeth
• She retired from her professional life in 1885
• Died on the 9th of October 1905 at the age of 84

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Biography

• www.authorama.com/19th_century_actor_autobiographi
  es
• www.theirvingsociety.org.uk/sir_henry_irving
• www.spartacus.schoolnet.co.uk
• http//en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Edwin_Booth
• http//www.authorama.com/19th-century-actor-autobi
  ographies-3.html
• http//www.authorama.com/19th-century-actor-autobi
  ographies-2.html
• http//en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Joseph_Jefferson
• www.google.com
• http//en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Charlotte_Cushman
• http//www.authorama.com/19th-century-actor-autobi
  ographies-4.html
• http//www.authorama.com/19th-century-actor-autobi
  ographies-11.html
• http//en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Adelaide_Ristori

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Written and Researched

by
Melanie Cottrell Leanne Corliss Freya Sawbridge