Henry E. Dixey (born Henry E. Dixon; January 6, 1859 – February 25, 1943) was an American actor and theatre producer. Dixey was born on January 6, 1859, in Boston, Massachusetts. He made his stage debut in Boston in 1868, joining the variety stock actors at the

Howard Athenaeum The Howard Athenæum (1845–1953), also known as Old Howard Theatre, in Boston, Massachusetts, was one of the most famous theaters in Boston history. Founded in 1845, it remained an institution of culture and learning for most of its years, final ...

, where in 1869 he played the character Peanuts in the

Augustin Daly John Augustin Daly (July 20, 1838June 7, 1899) was one of the most influential men in American theatre during his lifetime. Drama critic, theatre manager, playwright, and adapter, he became the first recognized stage director in America. He exer ...

play ''

Under the Gaslight ''Under the Gaslight'' is an 1867 play by Augustin Daly. It was his first successful play, and is a primary example of a melodrama, best known for its suspense scene where a person is tied to railroad tracks as a train approaches, only to be ...

''. Dixey starred in many plays and musicals, including his best-known role as the lead character in the popular burlesque musical ''

Adonis In Greek mythology, Adonis, ; derived from the Canaanite word ''ʼadōn'', meaning "lord". R. S. P. Beekes, ''Etymological Dictionary of Greek'', Brill, 2009, p. 23. was the mortal lover of the goddess Aphrodite. One day, Adonis was gored by ...

'', which he played from 1883 to 1885, occasionally joining tours afterwards. He performed on stage and in a handful of films until 1926. In addition to burlesques, comedies, and operettas, Dixey had a magic act as "Dixey, the Magnificent." He ventured into silent films in 1908, acting the title role in ''David Garrick.'' He also appeared in the films ''

Chelsea 7750 ''Chelsea 7750'' is a surviving 1913 American silent crime drama film directed by J. Searle Dawley and starring Henry E. Dixey (from the stage), Laura Sawyer, and House Peters. It was the fourth of six “Kate Kirby's Cases" detective stories made ...

'' (1913) and ''Father and Son'' (1916). Dixey was one of a party of gentlemen entertained by

Robert Emmet Odlum Robert Emmet Odlum (August 31, 1851 – May 19, 1885) was an American swimming instructor. Odlum was the first person to jump off the Brooklyn Bridge, and was killed doing so. Early life Robert Emmet Odlum was born in Ogdensburg, New York, on ...

, brother of women's rights activist

Charlotte Odlum Smith Charlotte Odlum Smith (née Odlum; 18401917) was an American reformer, regarded as the foremost authority on women's working conditions. She was a formidable lobbyist for disadvantaged women, and was partly responsible for the mandatory listing of ...

, on the morning of May 19, 1885, the day he jumped from the

Brooklyn Bridge The Brooklyn Bridge is a hybrid cable-stayed/ suspension bridge in New York City, spanning the East River between the boroughs of Manhattan and Brooklyn. Opened on May 24, 1883, the Brooklyn Bridge was the first fixed crossing of the East River ...

and was killed. Dixey used his gold stopwatch to time Odlum's fatal jump at three and a half seconds. His wife was

Marie Nordstrom Marie Nordstrom (12 April 1881/1886 - 2 January 1979) was an American actress. Early years Born in Fort Apache, Arizona Territory, Nordstrom was the daughter of United States Cavalry Captain Charles E. Nordstrom. She was also the older sister o ...

, who had performed in various plays written by her sister

Frances Nordstrom Frances Nordstrom (born June 1883 in Fort Davis, Texas) was an American actress and playwright. Early years Born in Fort Davis, Texas, Nordstrom was the daughter of United States Cavalry Captain Charles E. Nordstrom. He had command of that for ...

.Theatre Magazine - Volumes 23-24 - 1916 Page 144 "Among the latter, probably the most conspicuous is Frances Nordstrom, sister of Marie Nordstrom (Mrs. Henry Dixey), and for whom she arranged "Bits of Acting." For herself Miss Nordstrom wrote "All Wrong." For Laura Nelson Hall she ..." Dixey died February 25, 1943, in

Atlantic City, New Jersey Atlantic City, often known by its initials A.C., is a coastal resort city in Atlantic County, New Jersey, United States. The city is known for its casinos, boardwalk, and beaches. In 2020, the city had a population of 38,497.

following a traffic accident.

References

External links

*
Article on Henry E. Dixey from ''The Oxford Companion to American Theatre''
* American male stage actors American burlesque performers 1859 births 1943 deaths American male silent film actors 20th-century American male actors {{US-theat-actor-stub