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Henry Harris (actor)

January 01, 1970

Henry Harris (c. 1634 – 1704) was an English stage actor and theatre manager. Initially a painter he was a founder member of the new Duke's Company in 1660 following the Restoration which established itself at the old Salisbury Court Theatre before moving to the new Lincoln's Inn Fields Theatre shortly afterwards. Due to his background Harris may have been a set designer and painter during his early years with the company. However, by 1661 he was acting, and his first recorded role was in William Davenant's The Siege of Rhodes that summer. He quickly established himself as the second actor in the troupe after Thomas Betterton.[1]

Henry Harris
Harris as Cardinal Wolsey by John Greenhill, 1664.
Bornc.1634
Kingdom of England
Died3 August 1704
London, Kingdom of England
OccupationStage actor
Years active1661–1681

In 1663 he was briefly arrested, likely due to an attempt to change allegiance to the rival King's Company which was illegal at the time. The dispute seemed to be over pay, and he remained with the Duke's Company. In these years he also mentored an emerging actor Joseph Williams who would go on to have a long stage career of his own. In 1664 Harris played Cardinal Wolsey in a revival of Henry VIII, a widely celebrated performance.[2] He befriended Samuel Pepys in 1667–68 and features in his diary.[3]

When William Davenant died in 1668, Harris and Betterton took over management of the Duke's Company. In 1671 they led the company to the new Dorset Garden Theatre, and Harris took an apartment in the same building.[4] In 1673 he was involved in onstage accident when fellow actor Philip Cademan was seriously injured during a swordfight.[5] Harris was known for his fast living and enjoyed mixing in high society, running up heavy debts. Increasingly during the late 1670s several of his roles were taken over by William Smith, who succeeded him as manager of the Company in 1681 when Harris stepped back from active participation in the theatre. However he continued to remain a shareholder in the Dorset Garden venue although this brought him less revenue due to the merged United Company basing itself at Drury Lane.[6]

In his later years he mostly survived on government sinecures. He died on 3 August 1704 and was buried at St Paul's in Covent Garden, a church closely associated with actors.[7]

Harris also spent time as the Chief Engraver of the Royal Mint.

Selected roles edit

 
Dorset Gardens Theatre. Harris was a major shareholder in the venue which hosted the Duke's Company from 1671

References edit

  1. ^ Highfill, Burnim & Langhans pp. 123–25
  2. ^ Highfill, Burnim & Langhans p.125
  3. ^ Highfill, Burnim & Langhans p.127
  4. ^ Highfill, Burnim & Langhans pp. 128–29
  5. ^ Highfill, Burnim & Langhans p.129
  6. ^ Highfill, Burnim & Langhans pp. 130–31
  7. ^ Highfill, Burnim & Langhans p.131

Bibliography edit

  • Highfill, Philip H, Burnim, Kalman A. & Langhans, Edward A. A Biographical Dictionary of Actors, Actresses, Musicians, Dancers, Managers, and Other Stage Personnel in London, 1660–1800. SIU Press, 1982.
  • Van Lennep, W. The London Stage, 1660–1800: Volume One, 1660–1700. Southern Illinois University Press, 1960.

January 01, 1970
henry, harris, actor, henry, harris, 1634, 1704, english, stage, actor, theatre, manager, initially, painter, founder, member, duke, company, 1660, following, restoration, which, established, itself, salisbury, court, theatre, before, moving, lincoln, fields, . Henry Harris c 1634 1704 was an English stage actor and theatre manager Initially a painter he was a founder member of the new Duke s Company in 1660 following the Restoration which established itself at the old Salisbury Court Theatre before moving to the new Lincoln s Inn Fields Theatre shortly afterwards Due to his background Harris may have been a set designer and painter during his early years with the company However by 1661 he was acting and his first recorded role was in William Davenant s The Siege of Rhodes that summer He quickly established himself as the second actor in the troupe after Thomas Betterton 1 Henry HarrisHarris as Cardinal Wolsey by John Greenhill 1664 Bornc 1634Kingdom of EnglandDied3 August 1704London Kingdom of EnglandOccupationStage actorYears active1661 1681 In 1663 he was briefly arrested likely due to an attempt to change allegiance to the rival King s Company which was illegal at the time The dispute seemed to be over pay and he remained with the Duke s Company In these years he also mentored an emerging actor Joseph Williams who would go on to have a long stage career of his own In 1664 Harris played Cardinal Wolsey in a revival of Henry VIII a widely celebrated performance 2 He befriended Samuel Pepys in 1667 68 and features in his diary 3 When William Davenant died in 1668 Harris and Betterton took over management of the Duke s Company In 1671 they led the company to the new Dorset Garden Theatre and Harris took an apartment in the same building 4 In 1673 he was involved in onstage accident when fellow actor Philip Cademan was seriously injured during a swordfight 5 Harris was known for his fast living and enjoyed mixing in high society running up heavy debts Increasingly during the late 1670s several of his roles were taken over by William Smith who succeeded him as manager of the Company in 1681 when Harris stepped back from active participation in the theatre However he continued to remain a shareholder in the Dorset Garden venue although this brought him less revenue due to the merged United Company basing itself at Drury Lane 6 In his later years he mostly survived on government sinecures He died on 3 August 1704 and was buried at St Paul s in Covent Garden a church closely associated with actors 7 Harris also spent time as the Chief Engraver of the Royal Mint Selected roles edit nbsp Dorset Gardens Theatre Harris was a major shareholder in the venue which hosted the Duke s Company from 1671 Alphonso in The Siege of Rhodes by William Davenant 1661 Young Palatine in The Wits by William Davenant 1661 Young Trueman in The Cutter of Coleman Street by Abraham Cowley 1661 Duke Ferdinand in The Duchess of Malfi by John Webster 1662 Monsieur Beaupre in The Villain by Thomas Porter 1662 Salerno in The Slighted Maid by Robert Stapylton 1663 Antonio in The Adventures of Five Hours by Samuel Tuke 1663 Henry V in Henry V by William Shakespeare 1664 Theocles in The Rivals by William Davenant 1664 Sir Frederick Frolick in The Comical Revenge by George Etherege 1664 Cardinal Wolsey in Henry VIII by William Shakespeare 1664 Mustapha in Mustapha by Roger Boyle 1665 Duke of Richmond in The English Princess by John Caryll 1667 Warner in Sir Martin Mar all by John Dryden 1667 Sir Joslin in She Would If She Could by George Etherege 1668 Sir Positive At All in The Sullen Lovers by Thomas Shadwell 1668 Tysamnes in The Women s Conquest by Edward Howard 1670 Peregrine Woodland in Sir Solomon Single by John Caryll 1670 Prexaspes in Cambyses King Of Persia by Elkanah Settle 1671 Ferdinand in Charles VIII of France by John Crowne 1671 Sir Franckman in The Six Days Adventure by Edward Howard 1671 Cardinal in Juliana by John Crowne 1671 Rains in Epsom Wells by Thomas Shadwell 1672 Trickmore in The Citizen Turned Gentleman by Edward Ravenscroft 1672 Merry in The Morning Ramble by Henry Nevil Payne 1672 Don Fenise in The Spanish Rogue by Thomas Duffett 1673 Antonio in The Reformation by Joseph Arrowsmith 1673 Muly Labas in The Empress of Morocco by Elkanah Settle 1673 Theramnes in Alcibiades by Thomas Otway 1675 Zungteus in The Conquest of China by Elkanah Settle 1675 Araspes in Gloriana by Nathaniel Lee 1676 Ulama in Ibrahim by Elkanah Settle 1676 Ferdinand in Abdelazer by Aphra Behn 1676 Medly in The Man of Mode by George Etherege 1676 Merry in The Country Wit by John Crowne 1676 Don John in Don Carlos Prince of Spain by Thomas Otway 1676 Don Gusmun in The Wrangling Lovers by Edward Ravenscroft 1676 Thoas in Circe by Charles Davenant 1677 Cassander in The Siege of Babylon by Samuel Pordage 1677 Ranger in A Fond Husband by Thomas D Urfey 1677 Tiresias in Oedipus by John Dryden 1678 Antonio in The Counterfeits by John Leanerd 1678 Valentine in Friendship in Fashion by Thomas Otway 1678 Hector in The Destruction of Troy by John Banks 1678 Beverly in The Virtuous Wife by Thomas D Urfey 1679 King in The Loyal General by Nahum Tate 1679 Ulysses in Troilus and Cressida by John Dryden 1679 Cardinal in Henry VI Part I by William Shakespeare 1681 References edit Highfill Burnim amp Langhans pp 123 25 Highfill Burnim amp Langhans p 125 Highfill Burnim amp Langhans p 127 Highfill Burnim amp Langhans pp 128 29 Highfill Burnim amp Langhans p 129 Highfill Burnim amp Langhans pp 130 31 Highfill Burnim amp Langhans p 131Bibliography editHighfill Philip H Burnim Kalman A amp Langhans Edward A A Biographical Dictionary of Actors Actresses Musicians Dancers Managers and Other Stage Personnel in London 1660 1800 SIU Press 1982 Van Lennep W The London Stage 1660 1800 Volume One 1660 1700 Southern Illinois University Press 1960 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Henry Harris actor amp oldid 1215253315, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,

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