William Courtleigh Sr. | |
|---|---|
 William Courtleigh inLorna Doone. | |
| Shepherd ofThe Lambs | |
| In office 1913–1917 | |
| Preceded by | Joseph R. Grismer |
| Succeeded by | R. H. Burnside |
| Personal details | |
| Born | William Louis Courtleigh (1867-06-28)June 28, 1867 Guelph, Ontario, Canada |
| Died | December 27, 1930(1930-12-27) (aged 63) Rye, New York |
| Resting place | Woodlawn Cemetery, Bronx, NY |
| Spouse(s) | Helen Cross (1890), Edna Conroy (1912) |
| Children | William Courtleigh Jr., Stephen Courtleigh,Robert Courtleigh |
| Occupation | Actor * Manager |
| Known for | Co-FounderActors Equity |
William Louis Courtleigh (28 June 1867 – 27 December 1930) was a Canadian-American stage and film actor who appeared in Broadway productions, vaudeville theatre, and silent films.
Courtleigh was born June 28, 1867, inGuelph, Ontario, Canada to Stephen and Elizabeth (Phelan) Courtleigh.[1] At the age of three his family moved toSt. Louis, Missouri, where he was raised and educated. While studying law atWashington University he became a member of the St. Louis-based McCullough Club, an amateur dramatic organization, and attracted attention as an amateur actor. He made his first appearance on the stage in 1889, inBrother and Sister, under the management of John Dillon. After a season with Dillon's company, he joined the company ofFanny Davenport and played the roles of Jean de Sereux inFedora, and Thyseno inCleopatra. He had an important part inLa Tosca, and it was in Davenport's company that he first appeared on Broadway, New York.[2]
His next engagement was withAugustin Daly's stock company, appearing with that organization inThe Taming of the Shrew andThe Foresters withAda Rehan. He succeededRobert Hilliard as the hero ofBlue Jeans, played the leading role inIn Old Kentucky, and was leading man forHelen Dauvray in "That Sister of His" in succession, and then played in the principal role inThe District Attorney.[2]
With the company ofMargaret Mather and E.J. Henley[3] he played Posthumus inCymbeline, Romeo to Mather's Juliet, Rudolph inLeah, and Orlando inAs You Like It. After appearing in the title role inThe Man of Honor, he was engaged byDaniel Frohman for the Lyceum Theatre Stock Company. He first appeared at the Lyceum inThe Princess and the Butterfly, and when James K. Hackett became ill Courtleigh took his place in the leading role. In the summers of 1904 and 1905 he headed New England stock companies (Providence, Rhode Island andBoston, Massachusetts). In 1906, after being featured in the unsuccessfulThe Redemption of David Corson and playingCharles Hawtrey's role inThe Lucky Miss Dean, he went into vaudeville with R. C. MacCulloch's one-act play,The Third Degree, in which Courtleigh played eight different roles. In the season of 1907-1908 he playedPeaches, by George V. Hobart, in vaudeville.[2]
Courtleigh married stage actress Helen Cross on March 17, 1890,[1] and they had a son,William Courtleigh Jr., who also became an actor. Cross died in 1908,[4] and on May 12, 1912, Courtleigh married Edna Lillian Conroy (June 28, 1885 – July 25, 1962), an actress. They had four sons together, of whom two, Stephen andRobert, became actors as well.[1][5] Courtleigh was a member ofThe Lambs and served as Shepherd (president) from 1913 to 1917, succeedingJoseph R. Grismer.[6] He is credited with naming theActors' Equity Association.
Courtleigh died at his home inRye, New York, on December 27, 1930, after suffering from acute indigestion.[7]
One or more of the preceding sentences incorporates text from this source, which is in thepublic domain:Browne, Walter, ed. (1906).Who's Who on the Stage. New York: Walter Browne & F. A. Austin. pp. 59–60.
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