Wilton Lackaye (September 30, 1862 – August 22, 1932) was an American stage and film actor, who originated the role of Svengali (from the 1895 novel Trilby) in both stage and film.
Wilton Lackaye | |
|---|---|
 Theatre Magazine, 1908 | |
| Born | William Andrew Lackey September 30, 1862 |
| Died | August 22, 1932 (aged 69) |
| Years active | 1883–1925 |
| Spouse(s) | Annie Lewis (died 1896) Alice Evans (1 child) Katherine Alberta Riley |
| Children | 1 |
| Relatives | Helen Lackaye (sister) |
Early life
editWilliam Andrew Lackey[1] was born in Loudoun County, Virginia the son of James Lackey and his wife Margaret Bagnam.[2][3][4] He attended Georgetown University[5] and Ottawa College, initially planning to be a priest.[6] As an amateur, he acted with the Lawrence Barrett Club of Washington.[7]
Career
editLackaye's professional acting debut occurred in 1883 when he portrayed Lucentio in Francesca da Rimini at the Star Theatre in New York.[5] That summer he performed with a stock company in Dayton, after which he worked with the Carrie Swain Company.[7]
He created the role of Svengali in the play Trilby in 1895 which he played on screen in 1915 opposite Clara Kimball Young.[8] His film debut came in The Pit (1914).[9]
Lackaye toured in vaudeville during World War I, performing in the one-act plays Quits and The Bomb.[9]
Personal life
editHe married three times: first to actress Annie Lewis,[10][11] second to Alice Evans and lastly to Katherine Alberta Riley. He had a son Wilton Lackaye Jr. with Alice Evans.
He had two siblings in show business: James Lackaye Jr. and Helen Lackaye.[8][12]
Death
editLackaye died of an acute heart attack at age 69 at his home in New York City.[5] His funeral was held in St. Malachy's Roman Catholic Church, and he was buried in Calvary Cemetery.[13]
Filmography
edit- The Pit (1914)
- Children of the Ghetto (1915)
- Trilby (1915)[14]
- The Man of Shame (1915)
- God's Crucible (1921)
- What's Wrong with the Women? (1922)
- The Lone Wolf (1924)
- For Woman's Favor (1924)
- The Sky Raider (1925)
References
edit- ^ Room, Adrian - Dictionary of Pseudonyms: 13,000 Assumed Names and Their Origins, 2010 pg. 270 accessed June 27, 2012
- ^ William Lackey, Washington, D.C., 1870-1880 US Census Records, Ancestry.com
- ^ Who Was Who in the Theatre 1912-1976, vol.3 I-P page 1395, originally published annually by John Parker, 1976 edition published by Gale Research
- ^ Note: 1870 and 1880 US census records and Ontario marriage record placed Lackaye's birthplace as Washington D.C.
- ^ a b c "Wilton Lackaye, Noted Actor Dies", The New York Times; August 22, 1932; pg. 15
- ^ The Players Blue Book. Sutherland & Storms. 1901. pp. 80–81. Retrieved January 21, 2022.
- ^ a b "Wilton Lackaye". The Opera Glass. 3 (9): 148–150. September 1896. Retrieved January 21, 2022.
- ^ a b "Biography Wilton Lackaye". allmovie.com. Rovi Corp. Retrieved June 1, 2012.
- ^ a b Liebman, Roy (2017). Broadway Actors in Films, 1894-2015. McFarland. pp. 149–150. ISBN 978-1-4766-2615-4. Retrieved January 21, 2022.
- ^ Ontario, Canada, Marriages, 1801-1928 about William Lackey - Name: William Lackey - Birth Place: Washington DC US - Age: 25 - Estimated Birth Year: abt 1861 - Father Name: James Lackey - Mother Name: Margaret Lackey - Spouse Name: Annie B Lewis - Spouse's Age: 17 - Spouse Birth Place: Washington D C - Spouse Father Name: Charles E Lewis - Spouse Mother Name: Amelia Lewis -Marriage Date: 22 Dec 1886 - Marriage County or District: Essex -Ancestry. com
- ^ National Police Gazette; January 12, 1889; pg. 2; col. 4; Fulton History accessed June 27, 2012
- ^ "Wilton Lackaye". IBDb.com. The Broadway League. Retrieved June 1, 2012.
- ^ "Throng mourns Wilton Lackaye". The New York Times. August 25, 1932. p. 19. Retrieved January 21, 2022.
- ^ Koszarski, Richard (2 March 2005). Fort Lee: The Film Town. Indiana University Press. ISBN 978-0-86196-942-5.
External links
edit
- Wilton Lackaye at IMDb
- Wilton Lackaye portraits New York City Public Library, Billy Rose collection
- Gallery of Players vol.1-9; Wilton Lackaye