- Fred Terry
.
Biography
Terry was born in
London into a theatrical family. His parents, Benjamin (1818–1896) and Sarah (née Ballard)(1819–1892), were comic actors in a touring company based in Portsmouth [http://www.dgillan.screaming.net/stage/th-frames.html?http&&&www.dgillan.screaming.net/stage/terry/terry-e2.html Biography of Ellen Terry at the Stage Beauty website] ] and had eleven children, at least five of whom became actors: Ellen (the era's pre-eminent Shakespearean actress), Florence, Fred, Kate (1844-1924); and Marion. Two other children, George and Charles, were connected with theatre management. [Hartnoll, pp. 815-17.] Terry's great nephew (Kate's grandson), SirJohn Gielgud , became one of the twentieth century's most respected actors. [http://www.answers.com/topic/ellen-terry Terry Biography at Answers.com] ] [ [http://encyclopedia.farlex.com/Terry,+Dame+(Alice)+Ellen Hutchinson encyclopedia article on Terry family] ] Terry married the actressJulia Neilson .His first stage appearance was at the
Haymarket Theatre in 1880. During his career he played in all the principal cities of theUnited Kingdom , theUnited States , andCanada . In 1900, with his wife, he assumed the management of theHaymarket Theatre , and in 1915 of the Strand Theatre, producing and starring in "Sweet Nell of Old Drury". They would continue to produce plays together for the next 30 years, most notably, "The Scarlet Pimpernel " (first produced in 1903), which they also starred in and adapted for the stage fromBaroness Orczy 's manuscript. Despite scathing reviews from the critics, the play was a record-breaking hit and played for more than 2000 performances, then enjoying numerous revivals. Terry played at the New Theatre, London, part of each year between 1905 and 1912. He toured regularly with his wife in the 1920's, mainly in the romantic historical dramas that they enjoyed playing together.Terry was the father of
Phyllis NeilsonTerry .External links
* [http://www.collectorspost.com/cgi-bin/ShopLoader.cgi?Actors/fred_terry.html Information and photos of Terry and Neilson]
* [http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GRid=8879313 Find-A-Grave biography]
* [http://www.stpetersnottingham.org/misc/pimpernel.html Discussion of the creation of "The Scarlet Pimpernel"]*
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