Death of an old actor.
--The death of
James William Wallack, an actor of the "old school," is announced in the New York papers.
The
Times publishes the following obituary of him.
‘
"
James William Wallack was born in
London in 1795.
Both his parents were on the stage; his father,
William Wallack, being a distinguished comedian and vocalist; and his mother, Elizabeth Field, playing the leading female characters with
Mr. Garrick for several years.
He made his first appearance in
London at the age of seven, and, after playing boys' parts for some time, passed to the
Academic Theatre, established by Queen Charlotte, in Leicester street, Leicester Square, where English and German children appeared on alternate nights.--Here he attracted the attention of
Richard Brinsley Sheridan, who gave him an engagement at Drury Lane.
That theatre being subsequently burned down, he went to
Ireland; but in 1839 returned to
England, and on the opening night at the
New Drury Lane appeared as "
Laertes" in Hamlet.
"At the age of twenty-two he replaced
Mr. Booth in playing 'lago' to
Kean's 'Othello.' About this time he received very tempting offers from New York, and having, by the intervention of Lord Byron, who was his personal friend, obtained two years leave of absence from the management of Drury Lane, he made his first appearance in
America at the
Park Theatre, of this city, September 7, 1818, in the character of '
Macbeth.' --After two years of remarkable success here, he returned to
London, where he remained only one season, making then a second visit to
America.
Having been injured shortly afterwards by the upsetting of a coach, he went home to recruit, but returned for another season to the
United States, and after that became stage manager of Drury Lane, under
Elliston, performing also the leading characters.
In 1836, he opened the
National Theatre, at the corner of Church and Leonard streets, in this city.
In 1839, it was burned down, and during the next ten years he played star engagements in the
United States and
Great Britain.
"In 1851, he fixed his residence permanently in this city, and established
Wallack's Theatre (now
Wood's), on
Broadway, at the corner of Broome street. Here he enjoyed an uninterrupted success for many years.
The establishment was always distinguished by a uniform excellence of its stock company, and a careful regard to the proprieties of scenery and costumes, which gave it eminence among American theatres.
In 1861, the present
Wallack's Theatre, the leading theatre of the
United States, was established at the corner of Thirteenth street and
Broadway.
"
Mr. Wallack was probably, up to the time of his retiring from the stage, the best of the old school of actors.
He was, perhaps, most admirable in what might be termed the romantic drama, in such representations as '
Benedict' and '
Reuben Glenroy.' Although critics might be disposed to question him in the highest works of tragedy, in parts that merged upon the melodramatic, like '
Julien St. Pierre,' he was inapproachable in his time.
"
Mr. Wallack has suffered for some years of affections often incident to old age. He always dressed with the most fastidious taste, and had rather a Parisian appearance.
His name was ever spoken with respect by the members of the theatrical profession."
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