| Chancellor Olcott | |
|---|---|
Chancellor Olcott & co-star, c.1895 |
|
| Born | July 21, 1858 Buffalo, New York, United States |
| Died | March 18, 1932 (aged 73) Monte Carlo |
| Resting place | Woodlawn Cemetery, The Bronx, New York, United States |
| Awards | Songwriters Hall of Fame |
Chancellor "Chauncey" Olcott (July 21, 1858 – March 18, 1932) was an American stage actor, songwriter and singer.[1]
Born in Buffalo, New York, in the early years of his career Olcott sang in minstrel shows and Lillian Russell played a major role in helping make him a Broadway star. Amongst his songwriting accomplishments, Olcott wrote and composed the song "My Wild Irish Rose" for his production of A Romance of Athlone in 1899. Olcott also wrote the lyrics to "When Irish Eyes Are Smiling" for his production of The Isle O' Dreams in 1912.
He retired to Monte Carlo and died there in 1932. His body was brought home and interred in the Woodlawn Cemetery in The Bronx.
His life story was told in the 1947 Warner Bros. motion picture My Wild Irish Rose starring Dennis Morgan as Olcott.
In 1970, Olcott was posthumously inducted into the Songwriters Hall of Fame.