Irving, Sir Henry

Irving, Sir Henry, 1838–1905, English actor and manager, originally named John Henry Brodribb. He made his debut in 1856 and achieved fame in 1871 with his portrayal of Mathias in Leopold Lewis's The Bells, a role he often repeated. Irving managed the Lyceum Theatre, London, from 1878 to 1903, and with Ellen Terry as his leading lady, dominated the English stage. He was a champion of the star system; his productions were artistic spectacles with emphasis on scenic detail. As an actor he was most successful in the "realistic" melodramas of his day and in Shakespeare. To him acting was movement; his realistic approach to creating a character led to the noted controversy with Coquelin. His company toured the United States where he became quite well known. Irving was knighted in 1895, the first actor to be so honored, and was buried in Westminster Abbey.

Bibliography

See biographies by B. Stoker (1906), G. Craig (1930), C. M. Bingham (1978), and his grandson, L. Irving (1952); studies by A. Hughes (1981) and G. Rowell (1981).

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Irving, Sir Henry

 orig. John Henry Brodribb

(born Feb. 6, 1838, Keinton Mandeville, Somerset, Eng.—died Oct. 13, 1905, Bradford, Yorkshire) British actor. He toured for 10 years with a stock company before making his London debut in 1866. With his success in The Bells (1871), he became a leading actor in H.L. Bateman's company (1871–77). As actor-manager of the Lyceum Theatre (from 1878), he made it London's most successful theatre. He formed a celebrated acting partnership with Ellen Terry that lasted until the company dissolved in 1902. They were noted for their Shakespearean roles, and their theatrical qualities complemented each other: he the brooding introvert, she the spontaneous charmer.