Evening star., 1946-02-06
George Ar|iss Dies in London:
Celebrated for Character Roles
Briton Was on Stage
And Screen for
Nearly so Years
BY the Associated Press.

his London home last night. He hac
been suffering from bronchial all
ment.
The son of London printer, Mr.
Arliss began his stage career at Is
During his long career he portrayed
such memorable roles, both on the
stage and in motion pictures, as
Disraeli and Rothschild, and scored
one of his greatest successes in "The
Green Goddess"
He first came to the United States
with Mrs. Patrick Campbell in 1901
to appear in "The Second Mrs
Tanqueray"
Mr.. Arliss had been living, in
England in semiretirement since
shortly before the war. He had beer
subject to recurrent bronchial at
tacks in recent years but only II
days ago was seen strolling near
| Hyde Park.
| Nearly 60 years behind the foot
lights and before the camera made
of George Arliss one of the lead
ing figures of the English-speak.
ing stage on both sides of the At.
lantic and wherever American films
penetrated in the far corners OF
the world.
Essentially a character actor, he
portrayed historical personages with
scholarly meticulousness and won
probably his greatest fame in the
name role of 'Disraeli," play which
ran for five seasons in America be-
ginning in 1911 and was revived &c
years later in film form to attain
worldwide distribution.
Similarly his portrayal of the
Rajah of Rukh in "The Green God
dess" ran two years in the United
States, a full year in London and
then scored as a talkie.
Two full seasons were marked
up in 1929 for his Interpretation
Of Shylock ins 1.-the Merchant OF
Venice" 1t set an American record
for Shakespearian box Office re-
ceipts.
Diction Outstanding.
Mr. Arliss' diction, in these and
all the other parts which he es-
sayed; was one Of the outstanding
characteristics of his artistry, bring
Ing him in 1881 a gold medal from
the American Academy of Arts and
Letters. Joined to this was an un.
canny instinct for what the stage
calls pace" which marked him
QhNUa M k,t 81
Mr.. Arliss, born in London April
10, 1868, took to the stage in 1887
David Belasco engaged him in De-
cember, 1902, to support Blanche
Bates in '"The Darling of the Gods
Subsequently he passed to the man.
agement of Harrison Grey Fiske and
for six years played with the lat
ter's wife, Mrs. Minnie Maddern
Fiske when she was making stage
history with Becky Sharp" Leah
Kleschna," "Hedda Gabler" and
similar plays.
His first starring role was essayed
August 18, 1908, when he appeared
at the Belasco Theater, New York
in Fritz Molnar's "The Devil" A
rival producer put on the same play
at another theater that night and
there was sharp bit of theatrical
war in which the Arliss production
triumphed. Thereafter his name al
ways was up in the lights.
Begins Screen Career.
Mr.. Arliss began his screen ca
reer in 1920, alternating it with
continued stage successes until
"talkies" appeared. Then he vir-
tually gave up footlight work for the
Klieg lights. He filmed his bic
stage hits and followed with por-
trayals of Voltaire, the first Baron
Rothschild and an array of simila,
characters based chiefly on history.
Mr.. Arliss was married September
16, 1899, to Florence Montgomery, a
pupil in theatrical school in which
he was teaching. She appeared with
him in number Of his plays and
also took roles in a few of his films
They maintained homes in Holly
wood, New York, and Middlesex
England.
Mr.. Arliss recorded in his auto
biography that his first public ap-
pearance came when he was years
old. It wasn't on a stage, he simply
ran around the block wearing fan.
tastic headdress, the. aim being tc
startle the neighbors. Thereafter
through his school years in London
he was always putting on plays
for the youngsters of his neighbor-
hood and classes.
Stage work, however, was not In
the parental scheme of things. His
father, William Arliss Andrews, was
a printer and publisher and wher
the son finished his London school.
ing he was put in the Office of the
plant. But he spent his evening.
giving readings" at church meet
ings, working mems clubs or any.
where else that wanted him. Too
he organized an amateur dramatic
society of his own.
Finally in 1887 he quit business
entirely and got a place with stock
company at the Elephant and Castle
Theater. A year and half later, ir
January, 1890, he attained a place
on the stage of the West End" with
a part in a production at Terry's
Theater. Thereafter for eight year.
he played "the provinces" troupine
about Britain with obscure com.
panies, S&appearing before scanty
audiences, knowing poverty but
gaining experience.
It was not at all plain sailing
when he went to America. Followine
the 1908-9 success in THE Devil,
Mr.. Arliss had two discouragine
seasons. The title role in w. j
Locke's "Septimus" in the winter Of
1909-10 didn't "go" any too vel
with American audiences nor was
any furore raised after his opening
in Chicago in May, 1910, with "Wher
We Two Make History" He was