Wilton Lackaye
| Wilton Lackaye | |
|---|---|
 Theatre Magazine 1908 | |
| Born |
William Andrew Lackey September 30, 1862 Loudoun County, Virginia |
| Died |
August 22, 1932 (aged 69) New York City, New York |
| Years active | 1883–1925 |
| Spouse(s) |
Annie Lewis(died 1896) Alice Evans (1 child) Katherine Alberta Riley |
| Children | Wilton Lackaye Jr. |
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.
Early life and family
William Andrew Lackey[1] was born in Loudoun County, Virginia the son of James Lackey and his wife Margaret Bagnam.[2][3][4] He was married thrice: first to actress Annie Lewis, [5][6] second to Alice Evans and lastly to Katherine Alberta Riley. He had a son Wilton Lackaye Jr. (1902–1977) with Alice Evans. He had two siblings in show business: James Lackaye Jr.(1867–1919) and Helen Lackaye (1883–1940).[7][8]
Career
He created the role of Svengali in the play Trilby in 1895 which he played on screen in 1915 opposite Clara Kimball Young.[7] He enjoyed a lengthy and distinguished stage career before entering silent films in middle age. He was a unique and distinctive looking actor with large round eyes particularly effective when playing the control-freak Svengali.
Death
Lackaye died at age 69 in New York City.[9]
Filmography
- The Pit (1914)
- Children of the Ghetto (1915)
- Trilby (1915)
- 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
- ↑ 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.
- ↑ 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
- 1 2 "Biography Wilton Lackaye". allmovie.com. Rovi Corp. Retrieved June 2012. Check date values in:
|access-date=(help) - ↑ "Wilton Lackaye". IBDb.com. The Broadway League. Retrieved June 2012. Check date values in:
|access-date=(help) - ↑ Wilton Lackaye, NOted Actor Dies New York Times; August 22, 1932; pg. 15
External links
- Wilton Lackaye at IMDb.com
- Wilton Lackaye portraits NY Public Library, Billy Rose collection