Charles Harcourt
Encyclopedia
Charles Harcourt (1838–1880) was a British actor.
Harcourt was born in June 1838. After obtaining some experience by acting with amateurs, he made his first public appearance at St. James's Theatre, London, on 30 March 1863, as Robert Audley in a dramatic version of Mary Elizabeth Braddon
's novel Lady Audley's Secret
. In February 1866 he was seen at Drury Lane
as Baron Steinfort in The Stranger, in January 1867 as Frank Rochdale in John Bull, and in March 1868 as Count Henry de Villetaneuve in The Prisoner of Toulon.
He had engagements at the Royalty Theatre
, at the Strand
, at the Charing Cross
, 1872, and at the Globe in the following year. From Easter 1871 to Easter 1872 he was the lessee of the Marylebone Theatre. Some of the most important parts he played were Captain Absolute at the Charing Cross, November 1872; Claude Melnotte at the Haymarket
, May 1876; Pygmalion in the revival of Gilbert's Pygmalion and Galatea at the same house, January 1877; and Count d'Aubeterre in Proof at the Adelphi
, 1878. He afterwards appeared as Mercutio in Romeo and Juliet
, a part which he acted with spirit and discretion, and of which after the death of George Vining he was the best exponent. His last impersonation was the outcast Bashford in The World at Drury Lane, 1880.
He was an able, vigorous, and conscientious actor. From January 1880 he was the secretary of the National Dramatic Academy. On 18 October 1880 he, while rehearsing the character of Horatio at the Haymarket Theatre, fell into the scene dock at the back of the stage, inadvertently left open.
He died of erysipelas
on 28 October at the Charing Cross Hospital
, and was buried at Highgate Cemetery
on 2 November, leaving a widow and one daughter.
Harcourt was born in June 1838. After obtaining some experience by acting with amateurs, he made his first public appearance at St. James's Theatre, London, on 30 March 1863, as Robert Audley in a dramatic version of Mary Elizabeth Braddon
Mary Elizabeth Braddon
Mary Elizabeth Braddon was a British Victorian era popular novelist. She is best known for her 1862 sensation novel Lady Audley's Secret.-Life:...
's novel Lady Audley's Secret
Lady Audley's Secret
Lady Audley's Secret is a sensation novel by Mary Elizabeth Braddon published in 1862. It was Braddon's most successful and well known novel. Critic John Sutherland described the work as "the most sensationally successful of all the sensation novels." The plot centers on "accidental bigamy" which...
. In February 1866 he was seen at Drury Lane
Drury Lane
Drury Lane is a street on the eastern boundary of the Covent Garden area of London, running between Aldwych and High Holborn. The northern part is in the borough of Camden and the southern part in the City of Westminster....
as Baron Steinfort in The Stranger, in January 1867 as Frank Rochdale in John Bull, and in March 1868 as Count Henry de Villetaneuve in The Prisoner of Toulon.
He had engagements at the Royalty Theatre
Royalty Theatre
The Royalty Theatre was a small London theatre situated at 73 Dean Street, Soho and opened on 25 May 1840 as Miss Kelly's Theatre and Dramatic School and finally closed to the public in 1938. The architect was Samuel Beazley, a resident in Soho Square, who also designed St James's Theatre, among...
, at the Strand
Strand, London
Strand is a street in the City of Westminster, London, England. The street is just over three-quarters of a mile long. It currently starts at Trafalgar Square and runs east to join Fleet Street at Temple Bar, which marks the boundary of the City of London at this point, though its historical length...
, at the Charing Cross
Charing Cross
Charing Cross denotes the junction of Strand, Whitehall and Cockspur Street, just south of Trafalgar Square in central London, England. It is named after the now demolished Eleanor cross that stood there, in what was once the hamlet of Charing. The site of the cross is now occupied by an equestrian...
, 1872, and at the Globe in the following year. From Easter 1871 to Easter 1872 he was the lessee of the Marylebone Theatre. Some of the most important parts he played were Captain Absolute at the Charing Cross, November 1872; Claude Melnotte at the Haymarket
Haymarket Theatre
The Theatre Royal Haymarket is a West End theatre in the Haymarket in the City of Westminster which dates back to 1720, making it the third-oldest London playhouse still in use...
, May 1876; Pygmalion in the revival of Gilbert's Pygmalion and Galatea at the same house, January 1877; and Count d'Aubeterre in Proof at the Adelphi
Adelphi Theatre
The Adelphi Theatre is a 1500-seat West End theatre, located on the Strand in the City of Westminster. The present building is the fourth on the site. The theatre has specialised in comedy and musical theatre, and today it is a receiving house for a variety of productions, including many musicals...
, 1878. He afterwards appeared as Mercutio in Romeo and Juliet
Romeo and Juliet
Romeo and Juliet is a tragedy written early in the career of playwright William Shakespeare about two young star-crossed lovers whose deaths ultimately unite their feuding families. It was among Shakespeare's most popular archetypal stories of young, teenage lovers.Romeo and Juliet belongs to a...
, a part which he acted with spirit and discretion, and of which after the death of George Vining he was the best exponent. His last impersonation was the outcast Bashford in The World at Drury Lane, 1880.
He was an able, vigorous, and conscientious actor. From January 1880 he was the secretary of the National Dramatic Academy. On 18 October 1880 he, while rehearsing the character of Horatio at the Haymarket Theatre, fell into the scene dock at the back of the stage, inadvertently left open.
He died of erysipelas
Erysipelas
Erysipelas is an acute streptococcus bacterial infection of the deep epidermis with lymphatic spread.-Risk factors:...
on 28 October at the Charing Cross Hospital
Charing Cross Hospital
Charing Cross Hospital is a general, acute hospital located in London, United Kingdom and established in 1818. It is located several miles to the west of the city centre in the London Borough of Hammersmith and Fulham....
, and was buried at Highgate Cemetery
Highgate Cemetery
Highgate Cemetery is a cemetery located in north London, England. It is designated Grade I on the English Heritage Register of Parks and Gardens of Special Historic Interest in England. It is divided into two parts, named the East and West cemetery....
on 2 November, leaving a widow and one daughter.