John Lester Wallack

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For the American cricketer, see John Lester

John Lester Wallack (born John Johnstone Wallack) (January 1, 1820 New York, NY - September 6, 1888 Stamford, CT), was an American actor and son of James William Wallack.

At one time in the British Army, then on the Dublin and London stage, he made his first stage appearance in New York in 1847 under the name of John Lester as Sir Charles Coldstream, in Boucicault's adaptation of Used Up.

He was manager, using the name Wallack, of the second Wallack's theatre from 1861, and in 1882 he opened the third at 30th Street and Broadway. This theatre was torn down in 1915. Among the productions staged at this theater was Margaret Mather's ill-fated production of Cymbeline in 1897.

His greatest successes were as Charles Surface, as Benedick, and especially as Elliot Grey in his own play Rosedale, and similar light comedy and romantic parts, for which his fascinating manners and handsome person well fitted him. He married a sister (d. 1909) of Sir John Millais. He wrote his own Memories of Fifty Years.

[edit] Publications

• M. J. Moses, Famous Actor-Families in America (New York, 1906)

This article incorporates text from the Encyclopædia Britannica Eleventh Edition, a publication now in the public domain. This article incorporates text from an edition of the New International Encyclopedia that is in the public domain.