Ted McNamara

Edward Joseph McNamara (September 19, 1894 – 1928) was an Australian born vaudevillian who made a career on stage in Australia, the US and in Hollywood silent films, before dying suddenly in 1928.

McNamara was born in Melbourne, Australia.[1][2] As a juvenile, he appeared on stage in numerous productions while travelling Australia and New Zealand, with great acclaim.[3] In 1905, he joined a long tour by Pollard's Lilliputian Opera Company through Japan, China, Canada and the US,[4] the company achieving considerable renown.[5]

He married former company member and Australian actress Phyllis Hill in Canada in 1913, while both were underage. She returned to Australia in 1915, obtaining a divorce nine years later, in 1926, on the grounds of desertion. There was one child of the union.[6] McNamara continued to perform in North America, including on Broadway through 1922–1924.[7]

In 1926, Raoul Walsh teamed him with fellow comedian Sammy Cohen for supporting character roles in the war film What Price Glory? As a comedy duo, McNamara and Cohen would appear together in several films.

He died of pneumonia in early 1928. Many of the former Pollard's performers living in Hollywood attended the funeral, including Alf Goulding, Billy Bevan, Snub Pollard and Daphne Pollard.[8] He had remarried by this time.

Partial filmography

References
  1. US World War I Draft registration Card accessed 23 December 2016
  2. However, Victorian Births Deaths and Marriage records state 1893
  3. “DRAMATIC NOTES” The Mercury (Hobart, Tasmania, Wed 24 Aug 1904, Page 2. Accessed 23 December 2016
  4. Truth (Brisbane, Qld. : 1900 - 1954), Sun 29 Sep 1907 Page 2 “POLLARD'S LIVELY LILLIPUTIANS”
  5. “INTERSTATE NEWS” The Referee (Sydney), Wed 13 Dec 1916, Page 14, accessed 23 December 2016
  6. ACTRESS OBTAINS DIVORCE The Telegraph (Brisbane), Tue 11 May 1926, Page 20, accessed 23 December 2016
  7. Entry for Ted McNamara. The Broadway League, 2016 The Internet Broadway database, accessed 23 December 2016
  8. COMEDIAN'S DEATH The Daily News (Perth), Fri 23 Mar 1928, Page 11, Accessed 23 December 2016
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