John Hare (actor)
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circa 1898
“A Pair of Spectacles”
Sir John Hare (May 16, 1844–December 28, 1921), born John Fairs, was an English actor and manager of the Garrick Theatre in London from 1889 to 1895.
Sir John was born in Yorkshire and was educated at Giggleswick school, Yorkshire. He made his first appearance on the stage at Liverpool in 1864, coming to London in 1865, and acting for ten years with the Bancrofts at the Prince of Wales Theater [1]. He soon made his mark, particularly in T. W. Robertson's comedies, and in 1875 became manager of the Court Theatre. But it was in association with Mr. and Mrs. William Hunter Kendal at the St. James's Theatre from 1879 to 1888 that he established his popularity in London, in important character and men of the world parts, the joint management of Hare and Kendal making this theater one of the chief centers of the dramatic world for a decade. In 1889 he became lessee and manager of the Garrick theatre, where (though he was often out of the cast) he produced several important plays, such as Pinero's The Profligate and The Notorious Mrs Ebbsmith, and had a remarkable personal success in the chief part' in Sydney Grundy's A Pair of Spectacles. In 1897 he took the Globe Theatre, where his acting in Pinero's Gay Lord Quex was another personal triumph. He became almost as well known in the United States as in England, his last tour in America being in 1900 and 1901.
He was knighted in 1907. He retired[1] from the stage by 1912, appearing however in two films [1] a few years later.
Hare was considered the greatest character actor of his day, excelling in old men's parts.
[edit] References
- This article incorporates text from the Encyclopædia Britannica Eleventh Edition, a publication now in the public domain.
