William H. Thompson
Born(1852 -04-24)April 24, 1852
Scotland
DiedFebruary 4, 1923(1923-02-04) (aged 70)
New York City, U.S.
OccupationActor
SpouseIsabel Irving (1899 - 1923)
ParentJoseph Thompson

William H. Thompson (April 24, 1852 - February 4, 1923) was an American actor on stage, in vaudeville, and in films.

Early years

Thompson was born in Scotland on April 24, 1852[1] and came to the United States when he was six years old.[2] Both of his grandfathers were ministers, and his father was Joseph Thompson, a clergyman of Scotch Presbyterian Church.[3] He also had an aunt who was an actress.

When he was young, Thompson worked as a call boy at Daly's Theater in New York. By the time he was 14 years old, he knew the lines and plots of most classic plays, leading experienced actors to refer to him as "the human prompt book".[4] When his father died and left his entire estate of $130,000 for constructing a memorial temple in New York City, Thompson decided to become an actor. By age 20 he was playing second-character parts.[3]

Career

Thompson was a member of the original California Theater Company. His career took him from San Francisco to Broadway and then to vaudeville.[5] His Broadway debut came in The Girl I Left Behind Me (1893). He performed in at least 36 Broadway plays, ending with The Czarina (1922).[1]

In 1907,[6] Thompson was among the first actors to leave the legitimate theater to perform in vaudeville. He encouraged other established actors to make that transition and he encouraged young performers in vaudeville, helping them to meet the public's demands.[7] In 1908, he told a reporter, "I had just as soon portray for 20 minutes a character in vaudeville, if only it be worthy, as to play a role in a five-act drama."[8] In 1910, Thompson had his own vaudeville troupe. Its works included performing the sketch Pride of the Regiment at Shea's Theater in Buffalo, New York.[9]

Thompson never sought stardom.[10] Shortly after his death, The Brooklyn Daily Eagle said, "for twenty years he was acknowledged as the best character actor in New York. . . . He played almost everything and he played well everything he tried."[11]

After he had rejected offers to appear in films, Thompson took on the role of Andrew Cameron, uncle of the title character in Peggy (1916).[12] He went on to appear in other films, including Civilization's Child (1916) and The Eye of the Night (1916).[13]

Personal life and death

Thompson married actress Isabel Irving on October 19, 1899 in New Jersey.[14] On February 4, 1923,[1] he died of pneumonia at his home in Manhattan.[2]

References

  1. 1 2 3 "William H. Thompson". Internet Broadway Database. The Broadway League. Archived from the original on January 21, 2021. Retrieved December 1, 2021.
  2. 1 2 "William H. Thompson Dies". The Brooklyn Daily Eagle. February 5, 1923. p. 2. Retrieved December 1, 2021 – via Newspapers.com.
  3. 1 2 "Cut out for pulpit, goes upon the stage". Pittsburgh Daily Post. April 30, 1911. p. 5. Retrieved November 30, 2021 – via Newspapers.com.
  4. ↑ "William H. Thompson has had long career". The Pittsburgh Press. May 15, 1910. p. 35. Retrieved November 30, 2021 – via Newspapers.com.
  5. ↑ Baker, Colgate (July 13, 1908). "Many Stars on the Orpheum Programme: William H. Thompson, Katie Barry and Others Among the Newcomers". San Francisco Chronicle. p. 3 – via Newspapers.com.
  6. ↑ "William H. Thompson, Noted Actor, Is Dead". The Courier-Journal. Kentucky, Louisville. Associated Press. February 5, 1923. p. 9. Retrieved December 1, 2021 – via Newspapers.com.
  7. ↑ "Great dramatic star sets the mark for new performer in vaudeville". The Times-Democrat. Louisiana, New Orleans. January 20, 1913. p. 4. Retrieved November 30, 2021 – via Newspapers.com.
  8. ↑ Anthony, Walter (July 19, 1908). "'I would not be a matinee idol' - Whittlesey; 'I couldn't' - Thompson". San Francisco Call. p. 25. Retrieved November 30, 2021 – via Newspapers.com.
  9. ↑ "Shea's". The Buffalo Enquirer. May 21, 1910. p. 7. Retrieved November 30, 2021 – via Newspapers.com.
  10. ↑ "Theatrical News: William H. Thompson Believes in Being a Good Actor; Never Wanted to Be a Star and Is One". The Topeka State Journal. February 20, 1904. p. 7. Retrieved November 30, 2021 – via Newspapers.com.
  11. ↑ "A fine actor gone". The Brooklyn Daily Eagle. February 5, 1923. p. 6. Retrieved December 1, 2021 – via Newspapers.com.
  12. ↑ "Long Awaited 'Peggy' Ready". Motography. XV (1): 1–2. January 1, 1916. Retrieved November 29, 2021.
  13. ↑ "Empire". Reading Times. August 7, 1916. p. 6. Retrieved November 30, 2021 – via Newspapers.com.
  14. ↑ "Miss Isabel Irving weds". The New York Times. October 20, 1899. p. 7. Retrieved December 1, 2021 – via Newspapers.com.
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