Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1902-09-10
THE OLDEST ACTOR IN EUROPE.
James Doel, Who Recently Died in
England at the Age of 80.

From the London Chronicle.
The death yesterday morning at his resi-
dence, Stonehouse, Plymouth, Of James
Doel removes notable figure from the
theatrical world. He claimed the distinc-
ton of being the oldest actor In England.
but, as a matter Of fact, he was the oldest
actor in Europe, both as regards age and
stage experience. He was born In the VIII
lage of Maiden Bradley, Wiltshire. on
March ID, 1904, and made his first appear
ance on a stage in 1870. In those days
STOCK companies were engaged at the few
theaterS then in existence. A man PLAYED
many parts in the course of a week and
was expected to distinguish himself In each.
II, indeed, he could not enact a lover one
night ard an old man the next he was con-
Sidered incompetent, and was generally ad-
vised to seek his fortunes in another pro-
fession.
Happily Jimmy" Doel, as he was affec-
tionately called by those who enjoyed the
privilege of his acquaintance, was an actor
who could play small parts with as much
artistic effect as the stars TO whom were
relegated the more important roles What
he was most proud of, however, was the
fact that he had played the grave digger TO
Edmund keans Hamlet, and to hear the
old man recall that night, with its mem
orable incidents, was convincing proof that
the 'palmy days" Of the drama had passed
with the tragedian into ewigkeit His
Plymouth Theater in the stirring melo-
drama 1.-The Turnpike Gate" the footlights
then consisting of roughly made oil lamps.
whose odor did not Interfere with the en-
joyment Of the spectators
Mr.. Doel was also in the same cast with
Macready, playing the First Witch to the
great actors Macbeth, and with Fanny
kemble had played jacques to her Juliana.
In 1891 the year Of the great exhibition, he
made a holiday trip TO the metropolis, when
he appeared at the Maryebone Theater,
and subsequently at the Standard in Shore
ditch. He was one Of the institutions of
Plymouth, and previously 10 becoming the
lessee of the theaters there and at Stone
house he had controlled playhouses at Ex-
eter, Teignmouth, Torquay, Barnstaple and
other places. As lessee and manager of
these houses he had been brought into con-
nection with many of the leading actors
and actresses of the middle of last century
ana at one time or another most of the
"stars' had appeared at his theaters, in
ciudlng Nine Nestris and Charles Mathews,
1r., GuStaTuS Y. Brooke. Blackstone Iiston
and Miss Woolgar. He retired from the
stage some quarter of a century back. and
his latest appearance on the boards in Lon
don was at the Lyceum. on the occasion of
Mrs. Keeleys ninetieth birthday when
oeaming with delight, Mr. Doel stood on
MRS keeley's right-her senior by two
years-and was one of the foremost of the
cheering throng acclaiming the veteran
actress
Jimmy Doei was also a great connois-
seur of china and expert I'm BIRDS and of
his friends In feathers" he had been a
great breeder. had taken many prizes and
had also acted as Judge He owned q
quaint mn at Stonehouse known as Prince
Georges, and was to be upon almost
any day by those who knew the ordering of
his rounds either driving In a trim little
pony cart or walking through the streets,
carrying his basket, cracking jokes with
passing friends and doing his own market
ing. He was very fond of pointing out that
he was born in two counties, the room at
Maiden Bradley In which he first saw the
light being In house built over the river
which divides Wits and Somerset. He was
with one exception. the last survivor in
Plymouth who remembered seeing Napo-
leon prisoner on board the Bellerophon In
Plymouth sound.