Ernest Lawford

Ernest E. Lawford (1870-1940) was an English stage and film actor.

Ernest Lawford
The Circle, 1921 with Mrs. Leslie Carter, Ernest Lawford, and John Drew
BornApril 20, 1870
Yorkshire, England
DiedDecember 27, 1940
New York City, New York
OccupationActor
Years active1890-1940
Spouse(s)Janet Slater
ChildrenBetty Lawford
RelativesPeter Lawford (cousin)

Biography

Lawford made his theatrical debut in 1890 in London at the St. James Theatre in As You Like It. Later he appeared in productions of Charly's Aunt and A Woman of No Importance. In 1894 appeared in several plays with Arnold Daly at the Drury Lane Theatre. He toured the provinces with George Alexander. He made his first appearance in New York in 1903 and appeared with Arnold Daly in Candida. He later signed with Charles Frohman and appeared as the first American Mr. Darling in Peter Pan with Maude Adams. He remained with Frohman in drawing room type plays. He appeared with Grace George in Major Barbara in 1915, The Circle in 1921 with John Drew and Mrs. Leslie Carter and a modern-dress version of Hamlet in 1925 with Basil Sydney. One of his last New York plays was Tovarich in 1936.[1][2]

Although Lawford remained a stage actor for most of his career, he made his film debut in 1914 with Mary Pickford in A Good Little Devil. He made a slew of films up to his last, Personal Maid, in 1931, which was directed by Monta Bell. Monta Bell married Lawford's daughter, Betty, around the time of this film.

Personal

Lawford proposed marriage to Ethel Barrymore early in her career. He was one of many men rumored engaged to the actress. He was later married to Janet Slater and had one child, Betty Lawford. Betty's first husband was Monta Bell, the director who made Ernest Lawford's final film in 1931. The actor Peter Lawford was a cousin. Ernest Lawford died in New York on December 27, 1940.[3]

Filmography

References
  1. Great Actors and Actresses of the American Stage - in Historic Photographs, p.47 #122 edit. by Stanley Appelbaum
  2. Who Was Who in the Theatre: 1912-1976, vol.#3 I-P p.1428; compiled from editions published annually by John Parker, 1976 compilation by Gale Research
  3. Silent Film Necrology, p. 304 2nd edition c.2001 by Eugene M. Vazzana
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