The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1916-1920, 1918-10-03
EDWIN ARDEN, STAGE
FAYORITE, is DEAD
Was Successful Actor and Play
wright for the Last Thirty
five Years.
WITH BOOTH AND KEENE
Made New York Debut in 1888
in "Young Mrs. winthrop"
at Madison Square.

Edwin Hunter Pendleton Arden. ono
OF the best known actors and play
wriRhts OF the American stage during
the last thirty years. died suddenly yes
terday afternoon in the apartment OF
Miss Elsie Riser. 10 East Thirty-third
street. It was stated that Mr.. Arden
had q business engagement with Miss
Riser and had just climbed the steps
leading to her apartment whom no COM
planned Of illness.
A telephone message was sent at once
10 Mrs. Arden at their home. 40 Fife
street Forest Hills, Queens, and she
went Immediately to the Rizer apart
ment. Death was stated to be due to
heart failure. Miss Rizer said to In
reviewers that she was an actress and
had been asked by Mr.. Arden to zee
him for q business talk
Edwin Arden began hh dramatic
career In the support Of Thomas w.
Keene In Chicago In 1889. He was
born In Sc. Louis and educated in the
public schools there. New York first
knew him in 1888 when he appeared
with the Madison Square Theatre Com
pany In Young Mrs. winthrop" Later
In the same season he was in 'The
Russian Honeymoon company. He next
went to the Boston Museum Company
in the support of Edwin Booth. Dion
Boucicault and John Gilbert, and the
next season found him with the Edwin
Booth company.
Headed His Own Company.
He appeared in q round of legitimate
parts in New York in 1885 and from
1855 to 1895 toured the country at the
head OF his own company, which pre-
scented an extensive repertoire, including
| many plays which were written by
Arden himself Among his plays were
Eagles Nest" Barred Out" Rag
lan's way" and might and Morning"
Those who recall William II. Crane
in THE Governor OF Kentucky" which
was seen in New York. January 10,
1885. will remember Mr.. Arden as
Mason Rtr In that memorable produc-
ton, and the Fifth Avenue Theatre.
| which housed the play. also saw him
in the role Of Count de Clany In The
Fool of Fortune" He was John STAPLE
ton In shall We Forgive" and John
Orion in "A Lady OF Quality"
The Arden personality was trans
formed to Charles Grey horne in Pink
Domino" and J1Hor Beouciero in
Diplomacy" He was jean Renand in
"A Celebrated Case and the Oliver
West In Because She Loved Him So"
"Zorah." from his own pen. appeared
in 1899. with Mr.. Arden as the star.
and then he was seen as the Earl Of
Baford in Hearts Are Trumps." In
rapid succession the public knew him
as Caleb West, Prince Mctterntch with
Maude Adams, as Jim Bludso. Tom ST.
uerton and Paris In an all star cast
Of Romeo and Juliet" The versatile
| actor was also Bunny with Kyrle Bel
lew In "Rafies," and he held popular
interest as Launcelot in Merely Mary
| Ann" the play in which Eleanor Rob-
son. now Mrs. August Belmont, brought
tears to audiences all over the country.
In Many Popular Plays.
Home Folks" VIA Wireless" The
House OF Silence" The Redskin," Be
hind Closed Doors" His wife's
Family" The Regeneration" "A Happy
Marriage" THE Thief" THE Truth
Wagon" and a score OF other produc-
lions held him as one Of the best known
working members OF their companies.
1t was said that his father was an
officer on the stan of Gen. Sherman
and later an editor with the St. Louis
Republican, and his stage connection
was said TO have been due to the fact
that his father was named as receiver
for the Grand Opera House in ST. louis,
and Arden. then mere boy, was de-
tailed to look after the finances Of the
company then playing at the house. It
was during this work that he met Iseene,
who took a fancy to him and offered
him an opening with his company.
Thomas w. Keene. Dion Boucicault,
Edwin Booth. Clara Morris, John OIL
bert. William H. Crane, Julia Arthur,
Elsie Ferguson, Marie Tempest, Viola
Allen and Nine. Simone were few OF
the stage folk with whom he had been
associated before the day came when
the versatile genius OF the legitimate
went to the movies.
One OF his most notable moving pic
ture engagements was in THE EXPLOITS
of Elaine" Since his advent in the
screen work Mr. Arden had done much
work, both as writer of plays and as
an actor. He had been rehearsing
during the last three weeks with The
Three Wise Men" which is TO open soon
Mrs Helene Keene Arden, widow OF
the actor. is a daughter of the late
Thomas keene. Their daughter, Mrs,
George Beaver, and granddaughter, Ann
Arden Beaver also survive him. The
body was taken to the Campbell Funeral
Church and II will be inferred at Fair
view Cemetery. Staten Island. The fu-
neral arrangements were not announced
last night.