William Faversham

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William Faversham
William Faversham.jpg
Born (1868-02-12)12 February 1868
London, England, UK
Died 7 April 1940(1940-04-07) (aged 72)
Long Island, New York, USA
Occupation Stage actor
Spouse(s) Julie Opp

William Faversham (b 12 February 1868 in London, England – d. 7 April 1940 in Bay Shore, Long Island, New York) was a legendary film and stage actor from Britain who made his name on Broadway when he starred as Algernon in the original production of The Importance of Being Earnest in 1895. As a teenager in the 1880s he befriended and followed actor Maurice Barrymore around London when Barrymore, his wife and their three children visited England in 1884. Faversham idolised Barrymore and tried to imitate him when he began his stage career. Faversham was much admired in such potboilers such as Brother Officers, Julius Caesar, The Squaw Man, and Othello. He played Romeo to Maude Adams's Juliet. As he aged Faversham continued to take on classic roles and contemporary parts. In the 1930s he even tried films appearing in Rouben Mamoulian's Technicolor version of Becky Sharp in 1935[1][2]

Faversham was married three times. His first wife was Marian Merwin. His second wife was actress Julie Opp who bore him two sons, William Jr. and Philip(1907-1982). Julie had previously been married to Robert Loraine. She died in 1921. Lastly Faversham was married to Edith Campbell.

References[edit]

  1. ^ Eaton, Walter Prichard (1910). The American Stage of Today. New York, NY: P.F. Collier & Son. 
  2. ^ Great Stars of the American Stage by Daniel Blum Profile No.46 c. 1952(this 2nd edition c.1954)

External links[edit]