William Terriss
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William Terriss (20 February 1847 - 16 December 1897) was an English actor, known for his swashbuckling hero roles, such as Robin Hood, and in Shakespeare plays, and for his murder outside a London theatre.
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[edit] Life and career
Terriss's real name was William Charles James Lewin. He was born in London and loved the adventurous, outdoor life. After trying the merchant service, silver mining in America, medicine, sheep-farming in the Falkland Islands, and tea-planting in Bengal, in 1867 he took to the stage, where his handsome presence, fine voice and gallant bearing made him popular. He was married in 1868 and had a daughter, Ellaline, who became a very well known actress in musical comedy, together with her husband, Seymour Hicks (an actor and the proprietor of the Aldwych and Hicks theatres in London). He also had a son, Tom, who became a well-known film director, writer and actor.
Adopting his stage-name, William Terriss, he became a popular actor who, because of his swashbuckling style, came into favour in hero parts and was known as "Breezy Bill". His first appearance in London was as Lord Cloudrays in Tom Robertson's Society, in 1871, at the old Prince of Wales's Theatre. In 1871, also, Terriss had a major success in Robin Hood and in Rebecca, based on Ivanhoe by Sir Walter Scott. Over the next few years he established himself as one of Britain's most popular actors. In 1880 he joined Henry Irving's company at the Lyceum Theatre, playing such parts as Cassio and Mercutio, and in 1895 he acted there with Mary Anderson, as Romeo to her Juliet, for example.
In December 1885, Terriss met twenty-four year old Jessie Millward, with whom he starred in The Harbour Lights, and the pair established themselves as romantic leads together. Their romantic alliance was not limited to the theatre, and the pair toured Britain and America together for some years. Terriss was then engaged to take the leading parts in Adelphi melodramas, and it was in this capacity that for the rest of his career he was best known, though he occasionally acted elsewhere, notably with Irving at the Lyceum Theatre. In 1885, Terris starred in a drama called One of the Best, based on the famous Dreyfus Trial. Terriss's son-in-law, Seymour Hicks wrote the piece at the suggestion of the playwright W. S. Gilbert. Terriss's last appearance was in the play Secret Service.
[edit] Murder
On the 16th of December 1897, as he was entering the Adelphi Theatre to prepare for the evening's performance of Secret Service, Terriss was stabbed to death by deranged and disgruntled actor, Richard Archer Prince. Prince had become obsessed with Terriss and believed that Terriss had kept him out of work. The murder became a sensation in the London press.
[edit] Memorials
A lifeboat house was built in 1898 on Eastbourne seafront in memory of Terriss. It still stands there with a memorial plaque.
There is also a plaque on the wall by the stage door of the Adelphi Theatre recording the event of the murder.
A portrait of William Terriss hangs in the stairwell of Denville Hall, the home for retired Actors and Actresses in Northwood, Middlesex, England. The home is run by The Actors' Charitable Trust, founded in 1896 by Mrs. Kittie Carson (wife of the publisher of "The STAGE") and Mrs. Compton, mother of actress Fay Compton. Sir Henry Irving, was the first President of the organization until his death in 1905.
[edit] References
Arthur J. Smythe, The Life of William Terriss (London, 1898).
- This article incorporates text from the Encyclopædia Britannica Eleventh Edition, a publication now in the public domain.
- This article incorporates text from the 1901–1906 Jewish Encyclopedia, a publication now in the public domain.
