John Drew, Jr.

John Drew Jr.

Drew in the role of Petruchio
Born November 13, 1853
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, U.S.
Died July 9, 1927 (aged 73)
San Francisco, California, U.S.

John Drew, Jr. (November 13, 1853 – July 9, 1927) was an American stage actor noted for his roles in Shakespearean comedy, society drama, and light comedies. He was the eldest son of John Drew, who had given up a blossoming career in whaling for acting,[1] and Louisa Lane Drew, and the brother of Louisa Drew, Georgiana Drew & Sidney Drew. As such, he was also the uncle of John, Ethel, and Lionel Barrymore and also great-great uncle to Drew Barrymore. He was considered to be the leading matinee idol of his day, but unlike most matinee idols Drew's acting ability was largely undisputed.

John Drew, Jr. was educated at a fine academy in Philadelphia, but the life of the theater would become his primary focus at a young age.[2] His first role as a boy was “Plumper” in Cool as a Cucumber at the family’s Arch Street Theater.[3]

Drew had a long association with Charles Frohman and leading lady Maude Adams. In these years under Frohman, John Drew's stardom was established.[4] His first play with Frohman was The Masked Ball, a comedy adapted from a French play. This show was primarily a vehicle to establish Drew’s stardom under Frohman, and it succeeded in that.[5]

Drew was associated originally with the company of Augustin Daly in the 1880s, a man known for managing and training with grim efficiency.[6] Under Daly’s management, John Drew developed his reputation for versatility, appearing in many varieties of plays, but especially in contemporary works that are rarely performed or remembered today.[7] His frequent leading lady with Daly was the legendary Ada Rehan. His memoirs, titled My Years on the Stage, were published in 1922.

Highly esteemed by his fellow actors, John Drew was elected lifetime president of New York City's Players' Club. The abbreviation "Jr.", distinguishing him from his long deceased actor father, is usually dropped. He died in San Francisco on July 9, 1927 shortly after having been visited by his nephews John & Lionel Barrymore both of whom had taken time off from movie making on the West Coast. After cremation his remains were taken to Philadelphia and interred at Mount Vernon Cemetery.

Mr. Drew and his wife Josephine had one daughter Louise Drew (1882-1954). Louise married Broadway actor Jack Devereaux and they had a son John Drew Devereaux.[8]

Mr. Drew with cane visiting the film set of To Have and to Hold (1922). Standing with him are Arthur Rankin, Anne Cornwall and director George Fitzmaurice. Drew and Rankin were relatives through marriage. His late brother Sidney Drew was married to Gladys Rankin. Drew never appeared in motion pictures.

See also

References

  1. ↑ Moses, Montrose (1906). Famous Actor-Families in America. T. Y. Cromwell and Company.
  2. ↑ Moses, Montrose (1906). Famous Actor-Families in America. T. Y. Cromwell and Company.
  3. ↑ Adams, William Davenport (1904). A Dictionary of the Drama: a Guide to the Play, Play-wrights, and Playhouses of the United Kingdom and America from the Earliest Times to the Present. Chatto and Windus.
  4. ↑ Dithmar, Augustus Edward (1900). John Drew. F.A. Stokes Company.
  5. ↑ Dithmar, Edward Augustus (1900). John Drew. F.A. Stokes Company.
  6. ↑ Dithmar, Edward Augustus (1900). John Drew. F. A. Stokes Company.
  7. ↑ Adams, William Davenport (1904). A Dictionary of the Drama: a Guide to the Play, Play-wrights, and Playhouses of the United Kingdom and America from the Earliest Times to the Present. Chatto and Windus.
  8. ↑ portrait of Louise Drew, daughter of John Drew Jr. BarrymoreFamily.com
John Drew 1890s-1900s promoted as a Frohman star.

External links