Henry Ingott Woodruff (June 1, 1869 – October 6, 1916) was an American stage and silent film actor. He's remembered for starring in the original Broadway play ''

Brown of Harvard ''Brown of Harvard'' is the title of three silent films all based on the 1906 Broadway play of the same name by Rida Johnson Young. The 1926 version is notable for featuring John Wayne Marion Robert Morrison (May 26, 1907 – June 11, 1979), ...

'' in 1905.

Early life

He was born the son of Samuel V. Woodruff, a wealthy New York businessman, and first appeared on stage at nine in the 1879 juvenile company of ''H.M.S. Pinafore''. He acted with Daniel E. Bandmann and

Adelaide Neilson Lilian Adelaide Neilson (3 March 184815 August 1880), born Elizabeth Ann Brown, was a British stage actress. Early life Neilson was the daughter of a strolling actress, Anne Brown, and was born, out of wedlock, at 35 St Peters Square Leeds ...

. He later attended

Harvard University Harvard University is a private Ivy League research university in Cambridge, Massachusetts. Founded in 1636 as Harvard College and named for its first benefactor, the Puritan clergyman John Harvard, it is the oldest institution of higher le ...

and after graduating returned to acting.

Career

In 1893, Woodruff was in the first U.S. presentation of

Brandon Thomas Brandon Thomas may refer to: *Brandon Thomas (playwright) (1848–1914), English actor and playwright who wrote the hit farce, ''Charley's Aunt'' *Brandon Thomas (musician) (born 1980), American rock band singer *Brandon Thomas (American football), ...

's ''

Charley's Aunt ''Charley's Aunt'' is a farce in three acts written by Brandon Thomas. The story centres on Lord Fancourt Babberley, an undergraduate whose friends Jack and Charley persuade him to impersonate the latter's aunt. The complications of the plot inc ...

'', playing the part of Charley Wykeham. Over time he showed his range in Shakespeare, musical comedy, drama and farces. He appeared on stage with

Julia Marlowe Julia Marlowe (born Sarah Frances Frost; August 17, 1865 – November 12, 1950) was an English-born American actress, known for her interpretations of William Shakespeare's plays. Life and career Marlowe was born as Sarah Frances Frost at Cald ...

William Collier Sr. William Collier Sr. (November 12, 1864 – January 13, 1944), born William Morenus, was an American writer, director and actor. Collier ran away from home when only 11 years old to join a touring company run by Eddie Foy and in 1879 he appeared ...

and

Amelia Bingham Amelia Swilley Bingham (March 20, 1869 – September 1, 1927) was an American actress from Hicksville, Ohio.''Amelia Bingham, Actress Is Dead'', New York Times, September 2, 1927, pg. 17. Her Broadway career extended from 1896 until 1926.

. In 1902 he was in the cast of ''Mary of Magdala'' with

Mrs. Fiske Minnie Maddern Fiske (born Marie Augusta Davey; December 19, 1865 – February 15, 1932), but often billed simply as Mrs. Fiske, was one of the leading American actresses of the late 19th and early 20th century. She also spearheaded the fig ...

and

Rose Eytinge Rose Eytinge (November 21, 1835 – December 20, 1911) was a Jewish American actress and author. She is thought to be the first American actor to earn a three figure salary. Biography Eytinge was born November 21, 1835 in Philadelphia, ...

. In 1906 he scored a huge personal hit on Broadway in ''Brown of Harvard''. Woodruff had attended Harvard and the play was filmed several times. In 1915, Woodruff appeared in two silent films, ''A Man and His Mate'' and ''The Beckoning Flame'', the latter apparently survives in the

Library of Congress The Library of Congress (LOC) is the research library that officially serves the United States Congress and is the ''de facto'' national library of the United States. It is the oldest federal cultural institution in the country. The library is ...

Membership of The Lambs

Woodruff was elected to

The Lambs Club The Lambs, Inc. (also known as The Lambs Club) is a social club in New York City for actors, songwriters, and others involved in the theatre. It is America's oldest theatrical organization. "The Lambs" is a registered trademark of The Lambs, Inc ...

in 1890 and later served terms as Boy (vice president).

Death

Woodruff died of

Bright's Disease Bright's disease is a historical classification of kidney diseases that are described in modern medicine as acute or chronic nephritis. It was characterized by swelling and the presence of albumin in the urine, and was frequently accompanied b ...

in New York.''Silent Film Necrology'' 2nd Edition p. 575 c.2001 by Eugene Michael Vazzana

References

External links

* *
Portraits, New York City Public Library, Billy Rose collectionPortrait gallery
(University of Washington, Sayre collection)
"The Bright Stars of Yesterday"
life of Henry Woodruff
"Aloha"
Hawaiian style home built on Nantucket by Woodruff in 1904 and sold by him in 1916 {{DEFAULTSORT:Woodruff, Henry 1869 births 1916 deaths Male actors from Hartford, Connecticut American male stage actors American male silent film actors Deaths from nephritis Harvard University alumni 20th-century American male actors Members of The Lambs Club