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{{Short description|American stage and film actor (1875–1933)}}
{{infobox person
{{infobox person
| name = William Courtenay
| name = William Courtenay
| image =
| image = William Courtenay (actor).jpg
| imagesize =
| imagesize =
| caption =
| caption =
| birth_name = William Hancock Kelly
| birth_name = William Hancock Kelly
| birth_date = June 19, 1875
| birth_date = {{birth date|1875|6|19}}
| birth_place = [[Worcester, Massachusetts]]
| birth_place = [[Worcester, Massachusetts]]
| death_date = April 20, 1933
| death_date = {{death date and age|1933|4|20|1875|6|19}}
| death_place = [[Rye, New York]]
| death_place = [[Rye, New York]]
| restingplace =
| restingplace =
Line 17: Line 18:
| children =
| children =
}}
}}
'''William Courtenay''' (June 19, 1875 - April 20, 1933) was a noted Broadway star and later film actor. He was born '''William Hancock Kelly'''. At age 19 1894, before his Broadway career took off, Courtenay appeared in Alexander Black's slide show ''[[Miss Jerry]]''. This was a sort of alternative entertainment to a new device by [[Thomas Edison]] called ''moving pictures''.
'''William Courtenay''' (June 19, 1875 – April 20, 1933) was a noted Broadway star and later film actor. He was born '''William Hancock Kelly'''. At age 19 in 1894, before his Broadway career took off, Courtenay appeared in Alexander Black's slide show ''[[Miss Jerry]]''. This was a sort of alternative entertainment to a new device by [[Thomas Edison]] called a [[Kinetoscope]] à la ''moving pictures''.


==Broadway==
==Broadway==
A tall, handsome leading man Courtenay appeared in plays with [[Richard Mansfield]] i.e. a revival of ''Beau Brummel'' and the American premiere of ''Cyrano de Bergerac'' as well as productions produced by [[Charles Frohman]]. An early important Frohman production from 1902 was Oscar Wilde's ''The Importance of Being Earnest'' his costars being [[Charles Richman (actor)|Charles Richman]], [[Margaret Anglin]] and [[Margaret Dale (actress)|Margaret Dale]]. For three years after 1902 he appeared as leading man in plays starring [[Virginia Harned]] the ex wife of [[E. H. Sothern]] and seven years Courtenay's senior. They married around 1905 and Courtenay continued being a popular leading man on Broadway. Virginia Harned largely retired from acting after one or two more plays to be Mrs. William Courtenay. She produced no children. In 1913 he was chosen for the lead in ''Romance'' by [[Edward Sheldon]] and starring [[Doris Keane]] in the role of a lifetime. The lead role in this soon to be famous and very long running play made Courtenay more famous. Sheldon had originally offered the part to his friend actor [[John Barrymore]] who declined and later regretted it. Keane and Courtenay performed the play over a thousand performances. <ref>''Who Was Who in the Theatre: 1912-1976'', originally published annually by John Parker; 1976 edition published by Gale Research Company</ref>
A tall, handsome leading man Courtenay appeared in plays with [[Richard Mansfield]], e.g., a revival of ''Beau Brummel'' and the American premiere of ''Cyrano de Bergerac'' as well as productions produced by [[Charles Frohman]]. An early important Frohman production from 1902 was Oscar Wilde's ''The Importance of Being Earnest'' his costars being [[Charles Richman (actor)|Charles Richman]], [[Margaret Anglin]] and [[Margaret Dale (actress)|Margaret Dale]]. For three years after 1902 he appeared as leading man in plays starring [[Virginia Harned]] the ex-wife of [[E. H. Sothern]] and seven years Courtenay's senior. They married around 1905 and Courtenay continued being a popular leading man on Broadway. Virginia Harned largely retired from acting after one or two more plays to be Mrs. William Courtenay. They had no children. In 1913 he was chosen for the lead in ''[[Romance (Sheldon play)|Romance]]'' by Edward Sheldon and starring [[Doris Keane]] in the role of a lifetime. The lead role in this soon to be famous and very long running play made Courtenay more famous. Sheldon had originally offered the part to his friend actor [[John Barrymore]] who declined and later regretted it. Keane and Courtenay performed the play over a thousand performances.<ref>''Who Was Who in the Theatre: 1912-1976'', originally published annually by John Parker; 1976 edition published by Gale Research Company</ref>


==Motion Pictures==
==Motion pictures==
In 1915 and some twenty years after ''Miss Jerry'', Courtenay began appearing in [[silent film|silent]] films. Still handsome and quite famous as an actor he worked for such studios as [[William A. Brady]]'s World Pictures, [[Vitagraph Company of America|Vitagraph]] and most of all [[Pathe Exchange|Pathe]]. For the next fifteen years he appeared alternatively in plays and motion pictures. His first of five sound films, ''[[Evidence (1929 film)|Evidence]]'' for [[Warner Brothers]], is [[lost film|lost]]. His penultimate sound film [[Three Faces East (1930 film)|Three Faces East]] with [[Constance Bennett]] is being restored.
In 1915 and some twenty years after ''Miss Jerry'', Courtenay began appearing in [[silent film|silent]] films. Still handsome and quite famous as an actor he worked for such studios as [[William A. Brady]]'s World Pictures, [[Vitagraph Company of America|Vitagraph]] and most of all [[Pathe Exchange|Pathe]]. For the next fifteen years he appeared alternatively in plays and motion pictures. His first of five sound films, ''[[Evidence (1929 film)|Evidence]]'' for [[Warner Brothers]], is [[lost film|lost]]. His penultimate sound film ''[[Three Faces East (1930 film)|Three Faces East]]'' with [[Constance Bennett]] is restored and on Warner on-demand DVD.


==Death==
==Death==
William Courtenay died at Rye, New York on April 20, 1933. His widow Virginia passed away in 1946. They were childless.<ref>''Silent Film Necrology'' 2nd Edition, by Eugene M. Vazzana, c.2001</ref>
William Courtenay died at Rye, New York on April 20, 1933. His widow Virginia died in 1946.<ref>''Silent Film Necrology'' 2nd Edition, by Eugene M. Vazzana, c.2001</ref>


==Filmography==
==Filmography==
[[File:The Hunting of the Hawk.jpg|thumb|''The Hunting of the Hawk'' (1917)]]
*''[[Miss Jerry]]'' (1894)(*more slide show than motion picture)
*''[[Miss Jerry]]'' (1894) (*more slide show than motion picture)
*''[[The Whole Dam Family and the Dam Dog]]'' (1905)
*''Sealed Lips'' (1915)
*''Sealed Lips'' (1915)
*''The Island of Surprise'' (1916)
*''The Island of Surprise'' (1916)
*''The Romantic Journey'' (1916)
* ''[[The Romantic Journey]]'' (1916)
*''The Nintety and Nine'' (1916)
*''The Nintety and Nine'' (1916)
*''Kick In'' (1917)
*''[[Kick In (1917 film)|Kick In]]'' (1917)
*''The Hunting of the Hawk'' (1917)
*''[[The Hunting of the Hawk]]'' (1917)
*''The Recoil'' (1917)
* ''[[The Recoil (1917 film)|The Recoil]]'' (1917)
*''The Inner Ring'' (1919)(*short)
*''The Inner Ring'' (1919) (*short)
*''[[Evidence (1929 film)|Evidence]]'' (1929)
*''[[Evidence (1929 film)|Evidence]]'' (1929)
*''[[The Show of Shows]]'' (1929)
*''[[The Show of Shows]]'' (1929)
*''[[The Sacred Flame (film)|The Sacred Flame]]'' (1929)
*''[[The Sacred Flame (1929 film)|The Sacred Flame]]'' (1929)
*''[[Three Faces East (1930 film)|Three Faces East]]'' (1930)
*''[[Three Faces East (1930 film)|Three Faces East]]'' (1930)
*''The Way of All Men'' (1930)
*''[[The Way of All Men]]'' (1930)


==References==
==References==
{{reflist}}
{{Reflist}}


==External links==
==External links==
{{Commons category}}
*[http://ibdb.com/person.php?id=14509 Internet Broadway Database]
*{{IBDB name|14509}}
*[http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0183823/ Internet Movie Database]
*{{IMDb name|0183823}}
*[http://images2.bridgemanart.com/cgi-bin/bridgemanImage.cgi/400wm.MNY.0554830.7055475/381371.jpg portrait of William Courtenay]
*[https://web.archive.org/web/20160304095103/http://images2.bridgemanart.com/cgi-bin/bridgemanImage.cgi/400wm.MNY.0554830.7055475/381371.jpg portrait of William Courtenay](Wayback Machine)
*[http://www.ebay.com/itm/Photo-Virginia-Harned-William-Courtenay-Gris-11x14-J-/221089700240?pt=Art_Photo_Images&hash=item3379f91990 Virginia Harned and William Courtenay in ''Iris''(1902)](mistakenly labeled as 'Gris')
*[http://findagrave.com/memorial/26623020/william-courtenay findagrave]
*[http://www.ebay.com/itm/Photo-WILLIAM-COURTENAY-The-Harem-1924-/221095556449?pt=Art_Photo_Images&hash=item337a527561 Courtenay in "The Harem" 1924)]

* [[Frank Craven]], Courtenay, [[Violet Heming]] in [http://www.ebay.com/itm/Rare-14x11-Photo-WILLIAM-COURTENAY-FRANK-CRAVEN-/221090102951?pt=Art_Photo_Images&hash=item3379ff3ea7 Under Fire (1915)]
{{Authority control}}


{{Persondata
| NAME = Courtenay, William
| ALTERNATIVE NAMES =
| SHORT DESCRIPTION =
| DATE OF BIRTH = June 19, 1875
| PLACE OF BIRTH = [[Worcester, Massachusetts]]
| DATE OF DEATH = April 20, 1933
| PLACE OF DEATH = [[Rye, New York]]
}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Courtenay, William}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Courtenay, William}}
[[Category:1875 births]]
[[Category:1875 births]]
[[Category:1933 deaths]]
[[Category:1933 deaths]]
[[Category:People from Worcester, Massachusetts]]
[[Category:Male actors from Worcester, Massachusetts]]
[[Category:American stage actors]]
[[Category:19th-century American male actors]]
[[Category:American film actors]]
[[Category:American male stage actors]]
[[Category:American silent film actors]]
[[Category:American male silent film actors]]
[[Category:Actors from Massachusetts]]
[[Category:20th-century American male actors]]
[[Category:20th-century actors]]

Latest revision as of 20:49, 1 February 2024

William Courtenay
Born
William Hancock Kelly

(1875-06-19)June 19, 1875
Worcester, Massachusetts
DiedApril 20, 1933(1933-04-20) (aged 57)
Rye, New York
OccupationActor
Years active1894-1930
SpouseVirginia Harned

William Courtenay (June 19, 1875 – April 20, 1933) was a noted Broadway star and later film actor. He was born William Hancock Kelly. At age 19 in 1894, before his Broadway career took off, Courtenay appeared in Alexander Black's slide show Miss Jerry. This was a sort of alternative entertainment to a new device by Thomas Edison called a Kinetoscope à la moving pictures.

Broadway

[edit]

A tall, handsome leading man Courtenay appeared in plays with Richard Mansfield, e.g., a revival of Beau Brummel and the American premiere of Cyrano de Bergerac as well as productions produced by Charles Frohman. An early important Frohman production from 1902 was Oscar Wilde's The Importance of Being Earnest his costars being Charles Richman, Margaret Anglin and Margaret Dale. For three years after 1902 he appeared as leading man in plays starring Virginia Harned the ex-wife of E. H. Sothern and seven years Courtenay's senior. They married around 1905 and Courtenay continued being a popular leading man on Broadway. Virginia Harned largely retired from acting after one or two more plays to be Mrs. William Courtenay. They had no children. In 1913 he was chosen for the lead in Romance by Edward Sheldon and starring Doris Keane in the role of a lifetime. The lead role in this soon to be famous and very long running play made Courtenay more famous. Sheldon had originally offered the part to his friend actor John Barrymore who declined and later regretted it. Keane and Courtenay performed the play over a thousand performances.[1]

Motion pictures

[edit]

In 1915 and some twenty years after Miss Jerry, Courtenay began appearing in silent films. Still handsome and quite famous as an actor he worked for such studios as William A. Brady's World Pictures, Vitagraph and most of all Pathe. For the next fifteen years he appeared alternatively in plays and motion pictures. His first of five sound films, Evidence for Warner Brothers, is lost. His penultimate sound film Three Faces East with Constance Bennett is restored and on Warner on-demand DVD.

Death

[edit]

William Courtenay died at Rye, New York on April 20, 1933. His widow Virginia died in 1946.[2]

Filmography

[edit]
The Hunting of the Hawk (1917)

References

[edit]
  1. ^ Who Was Who in the Theatre: 1912-1976, originally published annually by John Parker; 1976 edition published by Gale Research Company
  2. ^ Silent Film Necrology 2nd Edition, by Eugene M. Vazzana, c.2001
[edit]
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