born Dec. 17, 1853, London, Eng.
died July 2, 1917, London
British actor-manager.
A romantic actor with a gift for character roles and comedy, he made his London debut in 1878 and won favourable notice in The Private Secretary (1884). As manager of the Haymarket Theatre (188797), he directed and acted in lavish Shakespearean productions, which he continued as actor-manager of Her Majesty's Theatre (18971915). He produced notable stage versions of Charles Dickens 's works. In 1904 he founded the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art.