Wilton Lackaye | |
---|---|
Born | William Andrew Lackey September 30, 1862 |
Died | August 22, 1932 | (aged 69)
Years active | 1883–1925 |
Spouse(s) | Annie Lewis (died 1896) Alice Evans (1 child) Katherine Alberta Riley |
Children | 1 |
Relatives | Helen Lackaye (sister) |
Wilton Lackaye (September 30, 1862 – August 22, 1932) was an American stage and film actor, who originated the role of Svengali (from the 1895 novel Trilby) in both stage and film.
William Andrew Lackey[1] was born in Loudoun County, Virginia the son of James Lackey and his wife Margaret Bagnam.[2][3][4] He attended Georgetown University[5] and Ottawa College, initially planning to be a priest.[6] As an amateur, he acted with the Lawrence Barrett Club of Washington.[7]
Lackaye's professional acting debut occurred in 1883 when he portrayed Lucentio in Francesca da Rimini at the Star Theatre in New York.[5] That summer he performed with a stock company in Dayton, after which he worked with the Carrie Swain Company.[7]
He created the role of Svengali in the play Trilby in 1895 which he played on screen in 1915 opposite Clara Kimball Young.[8] His film debut came in The Pit (1914).[9]
Lackaye toured in vaudeville during World War I, performing in the one-act plays Quits and The Bomb.[9]
He married three times: first to actress Annie Lewis,[10][11] second to Alice Evans and lastly to Katherine Alberta Riley. He had a son Wilton Lackaye Jr. with Alice Evans.
He had two siblings in show business: James Lackaye Jr. and Helen Lackaye.[8][12]
Lackaye died of an acute heart attack at age 69 at his home in New York City.[5] His funeral was held in St. Malachy's Roman Catholic Church, and he was buried in Calvary Cemetery.[13]