New Britain herald., 1927-07-09
JOHN DREW, NOTED ACTOR, DIES AFTER
 WEEKS SICKNESS
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(Continued from First Page) either with the audiences or my self" as he later explained it.
 Created Many Roles
 It was not long after. however, that Mir. Drew's strong histronic in- stinct began to show in his work and ne exhibited versatile ability similar to that which marked his mothers career. identifying himself thorough ly with a great variety of characters. Throughout his career of more than 70 years he was credited with hav- Ing created more roles and imper- sonated more characters than any player of note on the American ;'tage.
 Ills Climb to Fame
 Mir Drew's real climb to fame :. began when he placed himself un- der the management of Augustin ,Daly and made his New York debut at the Fifth Avenue Theatre as Rob Ruggles in The Big Bonanza" In that play Fanny Davenport, fa- nous stage beauty, was the leading lady. There followed two years Of constant plugging for recognition, after which he joined Edwin Booths company and played a long 1, succession of secondary roles in Shakespenrean plays. He also ap- peared with Clara Morris in Leah, the Forsaxen"
 By this time Mr Drew began to attract the serious attention of stage critics and one of them wrote of him: He possesses drollery, the talent of apparent spontaneity and the faculty of crisp emotion. He has surpassed all the young actors or lis day as the gay cavalier and the kantering farceur of the drawing room drama of modern social life" Starred In "DiplomaCy"
 During the season of 1S7S-79 MT. Drew toured the country with his brother-in-la law, Maurice Barrymore. in "Diplomacy" and afterwards re- turned to Daly's Theatre. remaining under the management of Mir. Daly until 1892. With Ada Rehan as ,ead- ing lady he played in a number of successes including Divorce Love on Clutches" "The Great un- known" "The Second in Command. and Loves Labor Lost AS member of Daly companies he play ed .enea gements in London in 1884 1886. and 1888.
 While Mir. Drew has been the leading man of the Daly companies for several years. his first oppor- tunity as a star came from Charles Frohman in "The Masked Ball. in 1892. his success in that play being shared by Maude Adams. He con- tinued under Mir. Frohman's man. aeement until 1915 and appeared in a new play regularly each season on Broadway. In several of them he toured the principal cities of the United States.
 His Famous Plays
 Some of the vehicles in which Mr. Drew achieved fame were
 Rosemary" "A Marriage of Con- venience." "The Mummy and the IIummingbird 7" Jack Straw and "A Single Man." One of his favor ,,e characters was Petruchio in 'The Tanning of the Shrew." Among the most notable of his latter day suc- cesses were Major Pendennis,' .'The Gay Lord Quex," and The Cat Bird"
 Born in Philadelphia
 John Drew was born in Philadel- phia November 13, 1858. He was educated in private schools and the Episcopal Academy, Philadelphia, studying at the latter institution un- til he was ready to make his stage debut. In 1880 he married Joseph inc Baker, an actress, of Philadel- phia. She died in 1918. They had one daughter, Louise Drew. who gained distinction on the stage.
 Was We'll Dressed
 Mir. Drew often was characterized as the best dressed man on the stage. He was fond of society and his knowledge of it served him we'll In many of his roles. So often did he portray the character of one exercising the manners and charac- teristics of gentleman that this stage figure came to be known to ,heatcr-goers as John Drew role"
 Mir. Drew's home was at East Hampton, Long Island. He was an expert tennis player, fencer and swimmer and his favorite recrea- tions were horseback riding and fox hunting.
 In 1925 MT. Drew made a memo rial address in Town Hall. New York. eulogizing Charles Frohman on tenth anniversary of Lusitania's sinking: later during the same year he made a formal presentation of the bust of Carlotta Cushnan to the Hall of Fame at New York univer- sity.
 18th anniversary of the fire depart ment of his own home town, East Hampton, he made a reference to his ''last appearance" which was in- terpreted as an announcement of his retirement from the stage.
 It was not, however. thus intend- ed, for in February. 1927. Mir. Drew effected the revival of "Trelawney of the Wells" with an all star cast. He presented this revival to q New York audience which received it enthu- siastically and then made tour for several months on the road.