Ben Webster (actor)

Benjamin Webster (2 June 1864 – 26 February 1947) was an English actor, the husband of the actress May Whitty, and father of the actress and director Margaret Webster. After a long career on the English stage, Webster, together with his wife, moved to Hollywood, where they made numerous films in their later years.

Life and career

Stage career

Webster was born on 2 June 1864 in London. Casson, Lewis
"Webster, Benjamin (1864–1947), actor"
''Oxford Dictionary of National Biography'', Oxford University Press, 2004. Retrieved 21 April 2021 His father, William Shakespeare Webster, was the son of the actor Benjamin Nottingham Webster. He was destined for the legal profession; after studying he became a practising barrister, but he appeared for a few performances with John Hare and W. H. Kendal in ''A Scrap of Paper'' and '' As You Like It'', and was successful enough to be offered an engagement with them in 1887. He made his professional debut at the St James's Theatre on 3 March 1887, as Lord Woodstock in ''Clancarty'', and subsequently toured as Octave in ''The Ironmaster''. In 1888 he appeared under the managements of Willie Edouin in ''Katti, Run Wild'', Charles Wyndham in '' Betsy'', and Henry Irving as Malcolm in '' Macbeth''.Parker, pp. 1523–1525

In the early 1890s he appeared in George Alexander's company, first at the Avenue Theatre and then at the St James's. Among many others he created roles in ''Lady Windermere's Fan'', ''Liberty Hall'' and ''The Second Mrs Tanqueray''. In 1892 he married the actress May Whitty in St Giles's-in-the-Fields Church, London. They had two children: a son who died in infancy and a daughter, Margaret, who became a stage director. Webster rejoined Irving for a tour of America in 1895–96, and remained with him at the Lyceum until 1898, playing Guiderius in ''Cymbeline'', Hastings in '' Richard III'', Comte de Neipperg in '' Madame Sans-Gêne'' among other parts. In 1898 he toured with Ellen Terry, playing Cassio in '' Othello'', and Beauseant in ''The Lady of Lyons''.

In the first decade of the 20th century his roles ranged from modern comedies and serious dramas, ranging from George D'Alroy in '' Caste'' to the title role in Euripides' '' Hippolytus'', plays by Wilde and Shaw, as well as swashbuckling pieces such as ''The Prisoner of Zenda'' with Alexander. In the latter part of 1907 he accompanied Mrs Patrick Campbell on her American tour; he played the male leads in ''The Second Mrs Tanqueray'', ''Magda'', ''Hedda Gabler'', ''The Notorious Mrs Ebbsmith'', '' Electra'' and other pieces.

Between 1910 and 1920 his roles ranged from Torvald Helmer in ''A Doll's House'' to the Caliph Abdallah in '' Kismet'', the Captain in '' Androcles and the Lion'', Tom Wrench in'' Trelawny of the Wells'' and George Marsden in '' Mr Pim Passes By''. In the 1920s he played more than 20 stage roles, mostly in the West End, but also in a tour of South Africa in 1928 with Zena Dare, playing in ''The High Road'', ''The Trial of Mary Dugan'', ''The Squeaker'', and ''Aren't We All?''.

In the 1930s he was more frequently seen in classics and other costume dramas, in roles including Richard de Beauchamp in '' Saint Joan'', the Duke of Venice in ''Othello'', the Duke of Venice in ''The Merchant of Venice'', the Duke of Lancaster in '' Richard of Bordeaux'' and Egeus in '' A Midsummer Night's Dream''.

Films

Webster acted in films for 30 years from 1913 to 1943. In the late 1930s he and Whitty emigrated to California, where they remained based until their deaths. His films included ''The House of Temperley'' (1913); ''Liberty Hall'' (1914); ''Enoch Arden'' (1914); '' Cynthia in the Wilderness'' (1916); ''The Vicar of Wakefield'' (1916); '' His Daughter's Dilemma'' (1916); '' The Gay Lord Quex'' (1917); '' 12.10'' (1919); '' Miriam Rozella'' (1924); ''The Lyons Mail'' (1931); ''One Precious Year'' (1933); ''The Old Curiosity Shop'' (1934); ''Drake of England'' (1935); '' Eliza Comes to Stay'' (1936); '' Forever and a Day'' (1943); and ''Lassie Come Home'' (1943) as Dan'l Fadden.

Webster died in Hollywood from complications during surgery for a cancerous tumour on 26 February 1947, aged 82. His wife died 14 months later. Webster was cremated and his ashes scattered in Woolacombe, Devon, England. Ben, May and Margaret have neighbouring memorial plaques in St. Paul's, Covent Garden, London, known as "The Actors Church".

References and sources

References

Sources

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External links

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autographed portrait
archived)

Ben and May; 1942
archived)

Ben Webster and May Whitty; 1944
archived)

{{DEFAULTSORT:Webster, Ben
1864 births
1947 deaths
English male film actors
English male silent film actors
English male stage actors
Male actors from London
20th-century English male actors
British expatriate male actors in the United States