Henry B. Irving

(1870-1919) Henry Brodribb Irving was the first son of Sir Henry Irving; he used the stage name “H. B.” to distinguish himself from his illustrious father. In 1894, the same year he was called to the Bar, Inner Temple, he chose the theater as a profession and was continuously employed from then on as an actor. He acted in his father’s company, and served several times as an actor-manager in the London theaters. For a short period, he took overRead more

Halliwell Hobbes

(1877-1962) Herbert Halliwell Hobbes made his stage debut in 1898 with Sir Frank Benson, and this was the start of his career in Shakespeare as he toured with the Benson Company. His real career and the one he is most noted for did not begin until 1929 in Hollywood when he played a part in his first film. Between 1929 and 1956 he appeared in 109 films—one of those character actors one remembers seeing many times in the movies.Read more

Harry R. Hignett

(1870-1959) Harry Reginald Hignett was born in Cheshire, England, and made his stage debut in Manchester in 1893 with Frank Benson‘s troupe. He played a minor role—one of the citizens of Rome. He worked with Benson until 1901, playing in those eight years with the Bensonians in at least twenty-two Shakespeare plays. He left Benson to go on tour with Mrs. Patrick Campbell in 1901. In 1907, he joined Oscar Asche and Lily Brayton at the Adelphi Theatre, London, whereRead more

Sir John Martin-Harvey

(1863-1944) Sir John Martin-Harvey, one of the most popular actors of his time, had a long and successful career of more than forty years on the stage. He first appeared in 1881 and then the next year joined the troupe of Sir Henry Irving with whom he stayed until 1896. He played in at least nine Shakespeare plays, but usually in fairly minor roles. Not until 1899 and a year with Sir Johnston Forbes-Robertson in 1897 did he begin playingRead more

Alfred Harris

Alfred Harris was a member of Sir Frank Benson‘s company. He first played at the Shakespeare Memorial Theatre in 1913 in Twelfth Night and ended his career at Stratford in 1924 after playing in eighteen Shakespeare plays. He married Dorothy Green, another “Bensonian.”Read more