New-York tribune., 1920-08-11
James O'Neil,
Noted Actor of
Old Stage, Dies
Gained Fame as Dantes in
Count of Monte Cristo':
Played Part 5000 Times;
Appeared With Booth
Death Follows Accident

- Ne%S1 OAOWS fKCCluC1t
Born in Ireland in l847.
Started on Career in 1867:
He Had Many Successes
James O'Neil, known to and loved by
the last generation of playgoers as
Edmond Dantes in "The Count of
Monte Crsto,' died yesterday at the
Lawrence Hospital, New London.
Conn. He had suffered for two
months from cancer of the stomach,
and had never fully recovered from
injuries received when he was run
down by an automobile on Broadway
in this city last December. His wife
and his two sons were with him at
his death
Mr. O'Nel was born at Kilkenny,
Ireland, on November Is, 1S47, the son
of Edmond and Katherine ONeil, and
was brought to this country in child
hood. The family settled in Cincin-
natl, Ohio, and there, while yet in his
teens, he occasionally served as a
member OF mob or a soldier in the
ranks in ono of Edwin FORESTS
classic plays. His first appearance in
a speaking part was at the old National
Iheater in that city, in 1867. That
was in the part of Icilius, in Knowles's
great tragedy of "Virginius," Forrest
himself taking the title role.
Two years later he joined the Bob
Miles Company, next was leading man
at Ford's Theater, Baltimore; played in
John Ellsler's Company at Cleveland,
and was a member successively Of Nc
Vlcker's and Hooley's stock companies
at Chicago, and of the Union Square
Iheater company in New York. 1t
was during this part of his career that
ne had the advantage of association
with Adelaide Nelson, Edwin Booth
and other great performers. In 1874
he made tour of California. and
then for three years was at the Union
Square Theater in this city.
Portrayed Christ in passion Play"
A striking incident of his career
came in 1877, when he returned to
California for three years and in 1880
assumed for few weeks the part Of
Jesus Christ in Salmi Morse's Pas
sion Play" He at first refused to take
the part, being himself devout
churchman and regarding the produc-
tion as impious; but finally he ac-
cepted it in order that it might not be
prcfaned and degraded by being as
sumed by some irreligious and per-
haps profiigate person. His perform
ance Of it was marked with all the
reverence of priests ministrations
at the altar, but public sentiment
compelled the withdrawal of the play
from the stage after few weeks.
Henry E. Abbey, the theatrical man
ager, was SO impressed by it that he
wished to have the play transferred
to this city, but public sentiment was
against it and the municipal authori-
ties forbade it,
Threaten Mr.. O'Neil devoted him
and classic drama. He was the star,
Jean Renaud, in "a Celebrated Case"
for some time. Then at Booth's s
Theater, in this city, he entered upon
ms unique career as the Count of
Monte Cristo. For fifteen years he ex-
plotted Dumas's adventurous hero on
the stage of virtually every city in
America, with never waning popularity.
His performances of it exceeded 5000.
Had Many Successes
He aftcrward played with great sue
cess the title role in "Virginius, +"
D'Artagnan in Mr.. Grundy's drama
tization of "The Three Musketeers, 4"
and Mark Antony in Julius Cnsar."
Among his earlier parts were Pierre
in THE Two Orphans" and the Prince
in "Thc Danicheffs"; and some of his
later and less consequential perform
ances were in Mr.. Belasco's spectacular
play, "The Wandcrer," and Hall Gaines
"The Manxman."
Mr.. O'Neil purchased from the late
A. NJ. Palmer the sole title and all
rights to the play of "Thc' Count of
Monte Cristo," and derived therefrom
a substantial fortune. A dozen wears
ago he invested heavily in a manu-
featuring concern in this city, and was
elected its president, but through no
fault of his it went into bankruptcy.
He owned a large farm in Maryland
and was interested in a mining enter
prise there. For number of years
his home has been in New London,
Conn. Of his two sons, the elder
James, has attained success as an
actor, and the younger, Lawrence, has
Jared equally we'll as play writer
Mr.. O'Nei was possessed of a COM
manding presence, bis figure being
superbly proportioned and graceful in
movement, and his face being hand
some and expressive. His voice was
that of an organ diapason. His bear
ing was manly and dignihed, and his
manner was marked with sympathy,
enthusiasm and the indehnablc but r-
resIstiblc charm of the Celtic tempera-
ment at its best. He digniied the
STACEY fustian of Monte Cristo be-
yond its intrinsic worth, as few other
actors could have done, and he showed
himself not unworthy of the sublime
passions of Nirginius.
Bowerman Burial To-day