Charles Collette

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Charles Collette (July 29, 1842-February 10, 1924) was an English composer and stage actor noted for his work in comedy.

A native of London, Collette began his acting career in 1868 in Tame Cats at The Prince of Wales's Theatre, produced by Marie Bancroft (nee Wilton). Over the succeeding years, he appeared in many Bancroft productions, including School, The School for Scandal, The Merchant of Venice, and Money. Later he was engaged by other managers, notably J. L. Toole, John Hollingshead, Mary Anderson, Lydia Thompson, and Beerbohm Tree, among others, as well as touring his own companies. He toured for some years as Colonel Woottwweell Woodd in F. C. Burnand's The Colonel.

Collette continued acting in London and in the provinces until 1907, when he played Mr. Micawber in David Copperfield, and in In the Bishop's Carriage at the Waldorf. He also appeared in concerts, and, towards the end of his life performed in "variety" shows.

In addition to performing, Collette wrote a number of his own works, including the "successful romantic extravaganza" improbably-titled Cryptoconchoidsyphonostomata, or While It’s to be Had., which premiered with Gilbert and Sullivan's Trial by Jury in 1875.