Lunt, Alfred

Lunt, Alfred (David) (1892–1977) stage actor; born in Milwaukee, Wis. Although he played some serious parts, he is best known for his roles in the sophisticated modern comedies. After his 1912 debut in Boston, his first success was in the title role of Booth Tarkington's Clarence in 1919. In 1922 he married Lynn Fontanne, after which the two usually appeared together, beginning with Sweet Nell of Old Drury. Performing with the Theatre Guild, the couple appeared in many distinguished plays including Arms and the Man and Pygmalion. He appeared alone as the bootlegger in Ned McCob's Daughter (1926), and as Marco Polo in Marco's Millions (1928). He performed together with Fontanne as Essex in Elizabeth and Essex in 1930. The two spent the war years of 1942–45 playing in England. Their last performance was in 1958, Duerrenmatt's The Visit, in New York's Globe Theatre (later renamed the Lunt-Fontanne).