George Rignold

George Richard Rignold, born George Richard Rignall, (1839 – 16 December 1912) was an English-born actor, active in Australia.

Early life

Rignold was born in Leicester. He was the son of William Rignall, an actor and theatre manager, and his wife Patience Blaxland, an actress. The surname Rignold was used professionally. George Rignold began his acting career quite young, playing the part of the messenger in Macbeth.

Acting career

Rignold soon gained a reputation as an actor, playing in London the parts of William in "Black-Eyed Susan" and Romeo in Romeo and Juliet. He then toured the United States (where women would fight over the good-looking actor) and Canada from 1875, where he made a great impression — a reference in the "The Atlantic Monthly" in 1938 shows that memory of him persisted. He then toured in Australia. He spent a season playing Henry V at Drury Lane, where Staffordshire replicas were made of Rignold as the king on horseback.Rignold again toured the United States and then settled in Australia. He held the lease for Her Majesty's Theatre, Sydney when it opened 10 September 1887 and held it for seven years. Rignold played Henry V on opening night.

"The Bulletin" of 18 November 1899 criticised his arrogance and impatience with stage-managers. He retired in 1900 but came out of retirement in 1907 to play Jason successfully in "The Bondman", produced by Bland Holt. His last stage appearance was at a benefit for George Sutton Titheradge in December 1910.

Late life

Rignold's first wife died in 1902, he remarried in 1907 a daughter of George Selth Coppin, there were no children by either marriage. Rignold died on 16 December 1912 at Charlemont Private Hospital, Darlinghurst. He left his estate of £11,000 to the Royal General Theatrical Fund.

References

*Helen M. van der Poorten, ' [http://www.adb.online.anu.edu.au/biogs/A060038b.htm Rignall, George Richard (1839 - 1912)] ', "Australian Dictionary of Biography", Volume 6, MUP, 1976, p. 30.
* [http://www.hat-archive.com/Hermajestyssydney.htm Her Majesty’s Theatre, Sydney] account of Rignold on the theatre's opening night

Additional sources listed by the "Australian Dictionary of Biography"::P. McGuire et al, "The Australian Theatre" (Melb, 1948); "Era" (London), Nov 1879; "Barrier Weekly Post", Oct 1898; playbill collection (Shakespeare Memorial Library, Birmingham); manuscript and printed catalogues under Rignold (State Library of New South Wales).

External links

*cite news
author=
title=MR. GEORGE RIGNOLD'S STOLEN JEWELRY.
date=
work=New York Times
url=http://query.nytimes.com/gst/abstract.html?res=9E00E1D7113FE63BBC4B52DFB5668383669FDE
accessdate=2008-08-07 New York Times article
* [http://www.allposters.com/-sp/Advertisement-for-George-Rignold-as-Henry-V-Posters_i1732528_.htm George Rignold as Henry V (poster)]
* [http://www.slv.vic.gov.au/pictoria/b/5/0/doc/b50672.shtml Mr. George Rignold picture]