John Drew, Jr.

John Drew Jr.
John Drew Jr.
Born	(1853-11-13)November 13, 1853 Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, U.S.
Died	San Francisco, California, U.S.

John Drew, Jr. (November 13, 1853 – July 9, 1927) was an American stage actor noted for his roles in Shakespearean comedy, society drama, and light comedies. He was the eldest son of John Drew, who had given up a blossoming career in whaling for acting, and Louisa Lane Drew, and the brother of Louisa Drew, Georgiana Drew and Sidney Drew. As such, he was also the uncle of John, Ethel, and Lionel Barrymore and also great-great uncle to Drew Barrymore. He was considered to be the leading matinee idol of his day, but unlike most matinee idols Drew's acting ability was largely undisputed.

Career overview

John Drew, Jr. was educated at a fine academy in Philadelphia, but the life of the theater would become his primary focus at a young age. His first role as a boy was "Plumper" in Cool as a Cucumber at the family's Arch Street Theater.

Drew had a long association with Charles Frohman and leading lady Maude Adams. In these years under Frohman, John Drew's stardom was established. His first play with Frohman was The Masked Ball, a comedy adapted from a French play. This show was primarily a vehicle to establish Drew's stardom under Frohman, and it succeeded in that.

Drew was associated originally with the company of Augustin Daly in the 1880s, a man known for managing and training with grim efficiency. Under Daly's management, John Drew developed his reputation for versatility, appearing in many varieties of plays, but especially in contemporary works that are rarely performed or remembered today. His frequent leading lady with Daly was Ada Rehan. His memoirs, titled My Years on the Stage, were published in 1922.

Highly esteemed by his fellow actors, John Drew was elected lifetime president of New York City's Players' Club. The abbreviation "Jr.", distinguishing him from his long deceased actor father, is usually dropped. He died in San Francisco on July 9, 1927 shortly after having been visited by his nephews John and Lionel Barrymore both of whom had taken time off from movie making on the West Coast. After cremation his remains were taken to Philadelphia and interred at Mount Vernon Cemetery.

Drew and his wife Josephine had one daughter, Louise Drew (1882–1954). Louise married Broadway actor Jack Devereaux and they had a son John Drew Devereaux.

Gallery

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  "Charles Frohman presents John Drew and his company"

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  Drew in the role of Petruchio

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  John Drew as Richard Carvel

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  Drew in his library (1902)

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  Drew at the Empire Theatre

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  Drew with his wife and daughter, Long Island (1902)

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  Portrait of John Drew, Jr. by Joseph De Camp

See also

• Barrymore family

External links

• Britannica Student Encyclopedia entry on John Drew (Jr.)
• John Drew photo gallery at NYP Library
• John Drew, Jr. at the Internet Broadway Database
• John Drew, Jr. : North American Theatre Online