Jeffreys Lewis
Encyclopedia
Jeffreys Lewis was a British-born American actress whose career lasted long after her popularity as a leading lady had faded.
) and made her first stage appearance at the Theatre Royal in Edinburgh, Scotland. She was brought to America in 1873, probably with her mother, May, and sisters, Catherine and Constance, with veteran British actor Thomas C. King to perform on the New York stage. Her Broadway debut came on the 11th of September, 1873, at the New Lyceum Theatre
on 14th Street and 6th Ave., playing Esmeralda opposite King's Quasimodo in Notre Dame, a failed dramatic adaption of Victor Hugo
’s The Hunchback of Notre Dame
.
and before year’s end she was playing Miss Grantham in Samuel Foote
’s comedy The Liar
at Wallack's Theatre
on Broom Street and Broadway. Lewis stayed with Wallack for a season appearing in The Rivals by Richard Brinsley Sheridan
, Central Park, by John Lester Wallack, The Veteran, The School by T. W. Robertson, The Shaughraun by Dion Boucicault
and Rafael, an adaptation of the French play Les Filles de Marbres by Théodore Barrière
.
The following few seasons were spent with Augustine Daly’s company and as a stock player at the Broadway Theatre
on Broadway and 30th Street before touring the West with Daly's company and finding success in California
. In the mid 1880s she embarked on a tour of Australia and possibly New Zealand for a seasons or two. Upon her return she gained popularity appearing in big cities and small as Beatrice in La Belle Russe an adaptation of a story by May Agnes Fleming
, Martha Moulton in Forget-Me-Not by Herman Merivale
, the Countess Clothilde in Clothilde, an adaption of a play by Victorien Sardou
, the Countess Zieka in Diplomacy by Victorien Sardou
and as Muriel in The Sporting Duchess By Sir Augustus Harris
, Cecil Raleigh
and Henry Hamilton
.
Jeffreys Lewis’ career began to wane in the late 1880s as she continued to play roles that audiences deemed inappropriate for someone approaching middle age. Eventually though she adjusted and became a character actress playing supporting roles, a move that extended her career well into the sunset of her years.
, actor Harry Mainhall. Their son, Harry Mainhall Jr., would go on to be a Hollywood actor and writer active in the early years of the silent era. Harry Mainhall Sr. died in Los Angeles on November 7, 1902 after battling tuberculosis.
's play, Easy Terms at New York's National Theater
. She was survived by her son, who would follow her in death five years later. Jeffreys Lewis was interned at the Kensico Cemetery
in Valhalla, New York
.
Early life
Mary Jeffreys Lewis was born in London, England on the 25th of October, the daughter of Irish parents of Welsh descent. Some sources give her birth year as 1855 or later, though if correct, early US census indicate she was most likely born around 1852. Lewis attending elocution classes at the Bikrbeck Institute (now Birkbeck, University of LondonBirkbeck, University of London
Birkbeck, University of London is a public research university located in London, United Kingdom and a constituent college of the federal University of London. It offers many Master's and Bachelor's degree programmes that can be studied either part-time or full-time, though nearly all teaching is...
) and made her first stage appearance at the Theatre Royal in Edinburgh, Scotland. She was brought to America in 1873, probably with her mother, May, and sisters, Catherine and Constance, with veteran British actor Thomas C. King to perform on the New York stage. Her Broadway debut came on the 11th of September, 1873, at the New Lyceum Theatre
Lyceum Theatre
- United Kingdom :* Lyceum Theatre, London, a 2,000-seat West End theatre located in the City of Westminster* Lyceum Theatre , an Edwardian period Grade II listed building and theatre* Lyceum Theatre , a 1068-seat theatre in the City of Sheffield...
on 14th Street and 6th Ave., playing Esmeralda opposite King's Quasimodo in Notre Dame, a failed dramatic adaption of Victor Hugo
Victor Hugo
Victor-Marie Hugo was a Frenchpoet, playwright, novelist, essayist, visual artist, statesman, human rights activist and exponent of the Romantic movement in France....
’s The Hunchback of Notre Dame
The Hunchback of Notre Dame
The Hunchback of Notre-Dame is a novel by Victor Hugo published in 1831. The French title refers to the Notre Dame Cathedral in Paris, on which the story is centered.-Background:...
.
Career
Lewis’ work in Notre Dame caught the eye of John Lester WallackJohn Lester Wallack
John Lester Wallack , was an American actor and son of James William Wallack....
and before year’s end she was playing Miss Grantham in Samuel Foote
Samuel Foote
Samuel Foote was a British dramatist, actor and theatre manager from Cornwall.-Early life:Born into a well-to-do family, Foote was baptized in Truro, Cornwall on 27 January 1720. His father, John Foote, held several public positions, including mayor of Truro, Member of Parliament representing...
’s comedy The Liar
The Liar
The Liar is Stephen Fry's first novel. The book relates the life of Adrian Healey, a public school and Oxbridge educated man who excels at lying and, along with other characters, forming an old boy's club, partakes in a makebelieve espionage game solely to avert boredom.A film version is in...
at Wallack's Theatre
Wallack's Theatre
Wallack’s Theatre , located on 254 West 42nd Street in New York, United States, was opened on December 5, 1904 by Oscar Hammerstein I. Wallack’s was Hammerstein’s 8th production theatre and was originally known as the "Lew Fields'", a name that Hammerstein gave it in recognition of his favourite...
on Broom Street and Broadway. Lewis stayed with Wallack for a season appearing in The Rivals by Richard Brinsley Sheridan
Richard Brinsley Sheridan
Richard Brinsley Butler Sheridan was an Irish-born playwright and poet and long-term owner of the London Theatre Royal, Drury Lane. For thirty-two years he was also a Whig Member of the British House of Commons for Stafford , Westminster and Ilchester...
, Central Park, by John Lester Wallack, The Veteran, The School by T. W. Robertson, The Shaughraun by Dion Boucicault
Dion Boucicault
Dionysius Lardner Boursiquot , commonly known as Dion Boucicault, was an Irish actor and playwright famed for his melodramas. By the later part of the 19th century, Boucicault had become known on both sides of the Atlantic as one of the most successful actor-playwright-managers then in the...
and Rafael, an adaptation of the French play Les Filles de Marbres by Théodore Barrière
Theodore Barrière
Théodore Barrière , French dramatist, was born in Paris.He belonged to a family of map engravers which had long been connected with the war department, and spent nine years in that service himself...
.
The following few seasons were spent with Augustine Daly’s company and as a stock player at the Broadway Theatre
Broadway theatre
Broadway theatre, commonly called simply Broadway, refers to theatrical performances presented in one of the 40 professional theatres with 500 or more seats located in the Theatre District centered along Broadway, and in Lincoln Center, in Manhattan in New York City...
on Broadway and 30th Street before touring the West with Daly's company and finding success in California
California
California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
. In the mid 1880s she embarked on a tour of Australia and possibly New Zealand for a seasons or two. Upon her return she gained popularity appearing in big cities and small as Beatrice in La Belle Russe an adaptation of a story by May Agnes Fleming
May Agnes Fleming
May Agnes Fleming was a Canadian novelist. She was "one of the first Canadians to pursue a highly successful career as a writer of popular fiction."...
, Martha Moulton in Forget-Me-Not by Herman Merivale
Herman Merivale
Herman Merivale CB was an English civil servant and historian. He was the elder brother of Charles Merivale, and father of the poet Herman Charles Merivale....
, the Countess Clothilde in Clothilde, an adaption of a play by Victorien Sardou
Victorien Sardou
Victorien Sardou was a French dramatist. He is best remembered today for his development, along with Eugène Scribe, of the well-made play...
, the Countess Zieka in Diplomacy by Victorien Sardou
Victorien Sardou
Victorien Sardou was a French dramatist. He is best remembered today for his development, along with Eugène Scribe, of the well-made play...
and as Muriel in The Sporting Duchess By Sir Augustus Harris
Augustus Harris
Sir Augustus Henry Glossop Harris , was a British actor, impresario, and dramatist.-Early life:Harris was born in Paris, France, the son of Augustus Glossop Harris , who was also a dramatist, and his wife, née Maria Ann Bone, a theatrical costumier...
, Cecil Raleigh
Cecil Raleigh
Cecil Raleigh was an English actor and playwright.He was the son of Dr. John Fothergill Rowlands, and took the stage name of Raleigh...
and Henry Hamilton
Henry Hamilton
Henry Hamilton was an Irish-born soldier and official of the British Empire. He was captured during the American War of Independence while serving as the Lieutenant Governor at the British post of Fort Detroit.-Early career :...
.
Jeffreys Lewis’ career began to wane in the late 1880s as she continued to play roles that audiences deemed inappropriate for someone approaching middle age. Eventually though she adjusted and became a character actress playing supporting roles, a move that extended her career well into the sunset of her years.
Marriage
Jeffreys Lewis married actor John Adolf Maitland (aka A. J. Maitland) in San Francisco on August 14, 1878. This marriage ended in divorce nine years later amid charges of infidelity and cruelty. On March 13, 1887 she married in Oakland, CaliforniaOakland, California
Oakland is a major West Coast port city on San Francisco Bay in the U.S. state of California. It is the eighth-largest city in the state with a 2010 population of 390,724...
, actor Harry Mainhall. Their son, Harry Mainhall Jr., would go on to be a Hollywood actor and writer active in the early years of the silent era. Harry Mainhall Sr. died in Los Angeles on November 7, 1902 after battling tuberculosis.
Death
Mary Jeffreys Lewis died on the 28th of April, 1926 in New York City. Her last appearance on stage was in October of the previous year playing Mrs. Schenck in Crane WilburCrane Wilbur
Crane Wilbur was an American writer, actor and director for stage, radio and screen. He was born in Athens, New York...
's play, Easy Terms at New York's National Theater
Nederlander Theatre
David T. Nederlander Theatre is a 1,232-seat Broadway theatre located at 208 West 41st Street, in New York City . One of the Nederlander Organization's nine Broadway theatres, the legacy of the theatre began with David Tobias Nederlander, for whom the theatre is named.Built by Walter C...
. She was survived by her son, who would follow her in death five years later. Jeffreys Lewis was interned at the Kensico Cemetery
Kensico Cemetery
Kensico Cemetery, located in Valhalla, Westchester County, New York, was founded in 1889, when many New York City cemeteries were becoming full, and rural cemeteries were being created near the railroads which served the city...
in Valhalla, New York
Valhalla, New York
Valhalla is an unincorporated hamlet and census-designated place that is located within the town of Mount Pleasant, New York, in Westchester County. Its population was 3,162 at the 2010 U.S. Census...
.