The Democratic press. [volume] (Ravenna, O. [Ohio]) 1868-1901, 1886-11-11
LONGEVITY ON THE STAGE.
Famous Actors and Actresses of the Past
Who Attained Ripe Old Age.

"It is enormously supposed that the
constant wear and tear of an actors
calling makes his stay upon the stage
of life brief compared with the rest of
humanity IN general.
These words were uttered to the New
York Mail and Express writer by an
actor who enjoys ripe old age.
What have you to prove your asser-
tion?" Statistics that can not be sue
cessfully controverted. will begin with
some of the most noted actors and
actresses, and give their ages when the
final curtain was rung down. There
was Roger Kemble, the father of
Charles, who led hard life in his youth
and reached the ripe old age of 81 years.
Charles Kemble the father of the brill
liant Fanny. was 20 when he passed
away. The greatest of this great family
of actors, John Philip kemble, gave up
the ghost at &c. He worked hard and
accomplished great deal during his
successful career. Charles Macklin, the
great Shylock, went far over the time
allotted by the bible and died at 107
years of age. David Garrick, the TRACE
dian and comedian, wore out his Won
derful vitality at 62. His wife. who was
a noted danseuse, came within three
years of living Il century. Thomas Bet
terton. the Drury Lane tragedian, was
carried to Westminster abbey at the age
of 75. while his contemporary. Thomas
Gray, the Covent Garden clown. reach
ed century. Mrs. Kendal's mother,
| who was Mrs. Robertson, was 81 when
her summons came Dowton, the jolly
| comedian, was one year older than Mrs.
| Robertson when his humor was snutied
| out forever. At 80 Macready ceased to
write in his journal and joined the choir
| invisible. Mrs. Frances Abingdon 8
| checkered career spun out 80 years. and
..sweet Kitty Give" was just "A when
| her bright smiles faded forever. Miss
| Foote, who became a countess, was con-
sidered very charming at 40, when she
died. Samuel Phelps was 40 and Buck
stone 78. The great Sarah SIddons. of
whom the poet Campbell wrote bio
| graphy. attained the age of 76. Mr..
| Lester Wallack's grandmother, in the
paternal line, lived to be 80, his uncle
Henry to be 78. and his brilliant father
to be 73. Jack Johnstone, another an
cestor of MIR. Lester Wallack on the
maternal side. was famous Irish come
dian, who died at 7S.
THE comedians are long-iived. Henry
and Thomas Placide were 73; Jack
Banister II; Paul j. Bedford. 78; Joe
Cowell. ~; William Farren. 30; Henry
Sloman, 80; James Quin. the favorite OF
George Ill, 20; the dashing Liston. "a;
Thomas King, the original Sir Peter
Teazle, "A; T. P. Cooke. 7S, and John
Collins, an Irish comedian, 40, when
their deaths occurred. James III. Hack.
EFT, the Falstaff which Shakespeare drew,
was over 20. and seemed to be in his
prime when he obeyed natures call.
| "0peratic artists, danseuses, and COM
posers often attain ripe old age. Colley
Cibber reached 81. Reynolds n. O'Keefe
sc. Mrs Inchbald 20. Sheridan Knowles
79, Samuel Lover 40, Cumberland 79
Murphy IS, Pierce Eagan ". Charles
Dance 20, Sir Henry Bishop SO, DR.
Arne 20, Ball "a. Myerbeer 20. Rossini
76, Haydn II. and Handel "A. All these
ilustrious men had something to dc
with the stage. The once famous prims
donna Nine. Saporiti added one year tc
a century, and the noted tenor De Ross
was in his ninetieth year when he died
Tamburini' wonderful voice was hush
ed at 76. and John Braham's at 70
Nine. Pasta, who could look like Norma
died at 68, and Henry Phillips. who haC
a rich deep bass voice, lived until &c
At 65 Caradori-AIan sung in concerts
Nine Catalani died at 20, Dibdin at 40
Fitzball at II, and Horncastle and In
cledon at 20. Charlotte Cushman wa
near upon the seventies when she lef
the record of her noble life behind
George Holland passed away at 79
Among the profession still alive, hal,
and hearty, but up in years, are JohI
Gilbert. William Warren, Mrs. JOIN
Drew, John E, Owens. Joe Jefferson
Stoddart. C. w. Couldock, Charlie
Thorne Sr., and Nine Ponisi."