Laurence Hanray ( Lawrence Henry Jacobs; 16 May 1874 – 28 November 1947), sometimes credited as Lawrence Hanray, was a British film and theatre actor born in

London London is the capital and largest city of England and the United Kingdom, with a population of just under 9 million. It stands on the River Thames in south-east England at the head of a estuary down to the North Sea, and has been a majo ...

England England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Wales to its west and Scotland to its north. The Irish Sea lies northwest and the Celtic Sea to the southwest. It is separated from continental Europe b ...

. He is also credited as the author of several plays and music hall songs. Laurence Hanray was born Lawrence Henry Jacobs in St John's Wood on 16 May 1874, the son of Angelo Jacobs (c. 1851–1910), a glass manufacturer, and Leah (née Nathan; 1850/1851–1946). His father changed his name to Angelo Jacobs Hanray, and with it the family name, after becoming bankrupt in 1897, although Laurence had been using the name Hanray professionally from at least 1892, when he appeared as a member of the Hermann Vezin Theatre Company in supporting roles in ''Hamlet'' and ''Macbeth'' at Her Majesty's Theatre, Dundee. Australian newspapers show he was in Australia and New Zealand from around 1901–04, appearing as Carraway Bones the undertaker in the farce ''Turned Up'' at the Theatre Royal, Perth, in May 1901, and subsequently at most of the main cities until June 1904. Travel records show him departing Sydney for Auckland in August 1901, and sailing from Sydney for London on 7 October 1904. He then resumed touring in Britain. In the 1911 census, Laurence Hanray (36), actor, is listed as residing at the Woolton Hall Hydropathic Hotel, Much Woolton, Lancashire, England. Hanray married Dorothy Mary Chambers Farnsworth (1884–1918) in the Birkenhead district during the first quarter of 1914. She petitioned for divorce in 1917, but then died suddenly in London on 16 August 1918. Hanray married Lois Grace Heatherley (1892–1966) in Paddington during the same quarter his first wife died. Lois was also an actress and performed with Laurence at the Booth Theatre, Broadway, in 1921. They were also together in '' The Faithful Heart'', she as Ginger and Laurence as Major Lestrade, at the Comedy Theatre, Haymarket. Travel records then show the couple arriving in New York in September 1922. He appeared in

John Galsworthy John Galsworthy (; 14 August 1867 – 31 January 1933) was an English novelist and playwright. Notable works include ''The Forsyte Saga'' (1906–1921) and its sequels, ''A Modern Comedy'' and ''End of the Chapter''. He won the Nobel Prize i ...

's play '' Loyalties'' at the Gaiety Theatre on Broadway. They arrived in Liverpool in May 1923. The couple also played together in ''

Escape Escape or Escaping may refer to: Computing * Escape character, in computing and telecommunication, a character which signifies that what follows takes an alternative interpretation ** Escape sequence, a series of characters used to trigger some so ...

'' at the

Booth Theatre The Booth Theatre is a Broadway theater at 222 West 45th Street ( George Abbott Way) in the Theater District of Midtown Manhattan in New York City. Opened in 1913, the theater was designed by Henry Beaumont Herts in the Italian Renaissance ...

, Broadway in 1927, she as Miss Grace and he in multiple roles (the Fellow Convict, the Old Gentleman and the Farmer). Laurence and Lois had a daughter, Ursula Susan Edith Hanray, on 16 November 1923. According to travel records, the family visited America from September 1927. Laurence also went on his own to Canada in September 1931, and also during 1939–1940. Ursula became a child actress, playing the title role in the first televised production of ''Alice Through The Looking Glass'' in 1937, and the young Queen Victoria in a London theatre in 1940. Hanray worked almost up to his death; ''

The Times ''The Times'' is a British daily national newspaper based in London. It began in 1785 under the title ''The Daily Universal Register'', adopting its current name on 1 January 1788. ''The Times'' and its sister paper ''The Sunday Times'' (fou ...

'' reported in early September 1947 that he was to appear in a play at Dunfermline

Abbey Theatre The Abbey Theatre ( ga, Amharclann na Mainistreach), also known as the National Theatre of Ireland ( ga, Amharclann Náisiúnta na hÉireann), in Dublin, Ireland, is one of the country's leading cultural institutions. First opening to the p ...

. He died at age 73 on 28 November 1947, following an operation at the Middlesex Hospital, London. Lois Grace Hanray died aged 74 on 25 April 1966.GRO Probate Calendar.

Partial filmography

* ''The Pipes of Pan'' (1923) - James Flaxman * ''

Beyond the Cities ''Beyond the Cities'' is a 1930 British drama film directed by Carlyle Blackwell and starring Blackwell, Edna Best and Alexander Field. The film was made as a quota quickie for release by Paramount Pictures, and is believed to have been made ...

'' (1930) - Gregory Hayes * '' Her Reputation'' (1931) - Mr. Montgomery * '' The Faithful Heart'' (1932) - Major Ango * ''

Love on Wheels ''Love on Wheels'' is a 1932 British musical comedy film directed by Victor Saville and starring Jack Hulbert, Gordon Harker, Edmund Gwenn and Leonora Corbett. Plot A daily commuter on a Green Line bus from the suburbs to Central London Fred ...

'' (1932) - Gallop's Commissionaire (uncredited) * ''

That Night in London ''That Night in London'' is a 1932 British crime film directed by Rowland V. Lee, produced by Alexander Korda, and written by Dorothy Greenhill and Arthur Wimperis. It stars Robert Donat, Pearl Argyle, Miles Mander and Roy Emerton. It was relea ...

'' (1932) - Ribbles * ''

Wedding Rehearsal ''Wedding Rehearsal'' is a 1932 British romantic comedy film directed by Alexander Korda and starring Roland Young as a bachelor forced to seek a wife. Plot "Reggie", the carefree Marquis of Buckminster, is happy to serve as best man at his ...

'' (1932) - News editor * ''

Leap Year A leap year (also known as an intercalary year or bissextile year) is a calendar year that contains an additional day (or, in the case of a lunisolar calendar, a month) added to keep the calendar year synchronized with the astronomical year or s ...

'' (1932) - Hope * '' There Goes the Bride'' (1932) - Police Chief (uncredited) * ''

The Good Companions ''The Good Companions'' is a novel by the English author J. B. Priestley. Written in 1929, it follows the fortunes of a concert party on a tour of England. It is Priestley's most famous novel and established him as a national figure. It won ...

'' (1933) - Mr. James Tarvin * '' Loyalties'' (1933) - Jacob Twisden * '' His Grace Gives Notice'' (1933) - Mr. Grayling * ''

This Week of Grace ''This Week of Grace'' is a 1933 British comedy film directed by Maurice Elvey and starring Gracie Fields, Henry Kendall and John Stuart. The screenplay concerns a poor, unemployed woman who is made housekeeper at the estate of a wealthy du ...

'' (1933) - Lawyer Cowlbe * ''

The Private Life of Henry VIII ''The Private Life of Henry VIII'' is a 1933 British film directed and co-produced by Alexander Korda and starring Charles Laughton, Robert Donat, Merle Oberon and Elsa Lanchester. It was written by Lajos Bíró and Arthur Wimperis for London F ...

'' (1933) - Archbishop Cranmer * '' The Man from Toronto'' (1933) - Duncan * ''

The Rise of Catherine the Great ''The Rise of Catherine the Great'' (also titled ''Catherine the Great'') is a 1934 British historical film about the rise to power of Catherine the Great. It was directed by Paul Czinner, and stars Elisabeth Bergner as Catherine, Douglas Fa ...

'' (1934) - Goudovitch * ''

Those Were the Days Those Were the Days may refer to: Music Albums * ''Those Were the Days'' (Johnny Mathis album) (1968) * ''Those Were the Days'' (Cream album) (1997) * ''Those Were the Days'' (Dolly Parton album) (2005) * '' Those Were the Days – The Best of L ...

'' (1934) - Wormington * ''

Chu Chin Chow ''Chu Chin Chow'' is a musical comedy written, produced and directed by Oscar Asche, with music by Frederic Norton, based (with minor embellishments) on the story of '' Ali Baba and the 40 Thieves''. Gänzl, Kurt"''Chu Chin Chow'' Musical Tal ...

'' (1934) - Kasim Baba * ''

The Great Defender ''The Great Defender'' is a 1934 British mystery film directed by Thomas Bentley and starring Matheson Lang, Margaret Bannerman and Arthur Margetson. Its plot concerns a top barrister who conducts the defence of an artist facing the death penalty ...

'' (1934) - Parker * '' Easy Money'' (1934) - Mr. Pim * '' What Happened Then?'' (1934) - Dr. Bristol * ''

Lorna Doone ''Lorna Doone: A Romance of Exmoor'' is a novel by English author Richard Doddridge Blackmore, published in 1869. It is a romance based on a group of historical characters and set in the late 17th century in Devon and Somerset, particularly ar ...

'' (1934) - Parson Bowden * ''

The Scarlet Pimpernel ''The Scarlet Pimpernel'' is the first novel in a series of historical fiction by Baroness Orczy, published in 1905. It was written after her stage play of the same title (co-authored with Montague Barstow) enjoyed a long run in London, having ...

'' (1934) - Burke (uncredited) * ''

Murder at Monte Carlo ''Murder at Monte Carlo'' is a British 1934 mystery crime thriller film directed by Ralph Ince and starring Errol Flynn, Eve Gray, Paul Graetz and Molly Lamont, the production was Flynn's debut film in a lead role in England. The film is curre ...

'' (1935) - Collum * '' Brewster's Millions'' (1935) - Grant * ''

Street Song A ballad is a form of verse, often a narrative set to music. Ballads derive from the medieval French ''chanson balladée'' or ''ballade'', which were originally "dance songs". Ballads were particularly characteristic of the popular poetry and ...

'' (1935) - Tuttle * '' Mimi'' (1935) - Barbemouche * '' Escape Me Never'' (1935) - (uncredited) * '' Adventure Ltd.'' (1935) - Simon Ledbury * ''

Drake of England ''Drake of England'' is a 1935 British drama film directed by Arthur B. Woods and starring Matheson Lang, Athene Seyler and Jane Baxter. It depicts the life of Francis Drake and the events leading up to the defeat of the Armada in 1588. Pr ...

'' (1935) - (uncredited) * ''

Expert's Opinion ''Expert's Opinion'' is a 1935 British thriller film directed by Ivar Campbell and starring Lucille Lisle, Leslie Perrins and Franklyn Bellamy. A group of foreign spies attempt to steal the plans for a new weapon. It was made at Elstree Studios ...

'' (1935) - Coroner * '' Whom the Gods Love'' (1936) - Archbishop of Salzburg * ''

Beloved Imposter ''Beloved Imposter'' is a 1936 British musical film directed by Victor Hanbury and starring Rene Ray, Fred Conyngham and Germaine Aussey. It was made at Welwyn Studios and released as a quota film by RKO Pictures.Chibnall p.287 It was based ...

'' (1936) - Arthur * '' Someone at the Door'' (1936) - Poole * ''

The Man Who Could Work Miracles ''The Man Who Could Work Miracles'' is a 1937 London Films British fantasy-comedy film directed by Lothar Mendes and produced by Alexander Korda. The film stars Roland Young with a cast of supporting players including Sir Ralph Richardson. ...

'' (1936) - Mr. Bamfylde * '' Lonely Road'' (1936) - Jenkinson * '' As You Like It'' (1936) - Third Lord (uncredited) * ''

Rembrandt Rembrandt Harmenszoon van Rijn (, ; 15 July 1606 – 4 October 1669), usually simply known as Rembrandt, was a Dutch Golden Age painter, printmaker and draughtsman. An innovative and prolific master in three media, he is generally consid ...

'' (1936) - Heertsbeeke * ''

Three Maxims ''Three Maxims'' is a 1936 British drama film directed by Herbert Wilcox and starring Anna Neagle, Tullio Carminati and Leslie Banks. It was released in the United States under the alternative title '' The Show Goes On''. Separate French and Ger ...

'' (1936) - Thomas * ''

Fire Over England ''Fire Over England'' is a 1937 London Film Productions film drama, notable for providing the first pairing of Laurence Olivier and Vivien Leigh. It was directed by William K. Howard and written by Clemence Dane from the 1936 novel '' Fire ...

'' (1937) - French Ambassador * ''

Action for Slander ''Action for Slander'' is a 1937 British drama film directed by Tim Whelan and starring Clive Brook, Ann Todd and Googie Withers. The plot is about an army officer who is falsely accused at cheating at cards by a man whose wife he had an affair ...

'' (1937) - Clerk of Court * '' Dark Journey'' (1937) - Cottin * ''

Moonlight Sonata The Piano Sonata No. 14 in C-sharp minor, marked ''Quasi una fantasia'', Op. 27, No. 2, is a piano sonata by Ludwig van Beethoven. It was completed in 1801 and dedicated in 1802 to his pupil Countess Giulietta Guicciardi. The popular name ''M ...

'' (1937) - Mr. Bishop * '' The Show Goes On'' (1937) - Waiter (uncredited) * ''

Knights for a Day ''Knights for a Day'' is a 1937 British comedy film directed by Norman Lee and starring Nelson Keys, John Garrick and Nancy Burne. It was made as a quota quickie at Welwyn Studios. Plot A man wins a car in a competition, and decides to tour roun ...

'' (1937) - (uncredited) * ''

It's Never Too Late to Mend ''It's Never Too Late to Mend'' (alternatively just ''Never Too Late to Mend''; US release title ''Never Too Late'') is a 1937 British melodrama film directed by David MacDonald and starring Tod Slaughter, Jack Livesey and Marjorie Taylor. In ...

'' (1937) - Lawyer Crawley * ''

Knight Without Armour ''Knight Without Armour'' (styled as ''Knight Without Armor'' in some releases) is a 1937 British historical drama film starring Marlene Dietrich and Robert Donat. It was directed by Jacques Feyder and produced by Alexander Korda from a screenp ...

'' (1937) - Forrester * '' Midnight Menace'' (1937) - Sir George, Lead Conspirator * ''

The Girl in the Taxi ''The'' () is a grammatical article in English, denoting persons or things already mentioned, under discussion, implied or otherwise presumed familiar to listeners, readers, or speakers. It is the definite article in English. ''The'' is the m ...

'' (1937) - Charencey * ''

Smash and Grab A smash and grab is a particular form of burglary or looting that involves smashing a barrier, usually a display window in a shop or a showcase, grabbing valuables, and then making a quick getaway, without concern for setting off alarms or creat ...

'' (1937) - Praskins * '' The Last Chance'' (1937) - Mr. Perrin * '' A Royal Divorce'' (1938) - Klemens von Metternich * ''

The Missing People ''The Missing People'' is a 1940 British, black-and-white, mystery film directed by Jack Raymond and starring Ronald Shiner as Sam Hackett and Will Fyffe as Mr. J. G. Reeder. It was produced by Jack Raymond Productions. Ronald Shiner, Will Fy ...

'' (1939) * ''

21 Days ''21 Days'' (also known as ''21 Days Together'', ''The First and the Last'' and ''Three Weeks Together'') is a 1940 British drama film based on the short 1919 play '' The First and the Last'' by John Galsworthy. It was directed by Basil Dean and ...

'' (1940) - Solicitor * ''

The Ghost of St. Michael's ''The Ghost of St. Michael's'' is a 1941 British comedy- thriller film, produced by Ealing Studios. Will Hay, the film's star, replaced his sidekicks, Graham Moffatt and Moore Marriott, from his previous film '' Where's That Fire?'' with comed ...

'' (1941) - Clerk of Court (uncredited) * ''

Quiet Wedding ''Quiet Wedding'' is a 1941 British romantic comedy film directed by Anthony Asquith and starring Margaret Lockwood, Derek Farr and Marjorie Fielding. The screenplay was written by Terence Rattigan and Anatole de Grunwald based on the play ''Qui ...

'' (1941) - Mr. Williamson (uncredited) * ''

Old Mother Riley's Circus ''Old Mother Riley's Circus'' is a 1941 British comedy film directed by Thomas Bentley and starring Arthur Lucan, Kitty McShane and John Longden. Old Mother Riley takes over a struggling circus and makes a huge success of it. The trade ad poster ...

'' (1941) - Cheddar, KC * ''

Penn of Pennsylvania ''Penn of Pennsylvania'' is a 1941 British historical drama film directed by Lance Comfort and starring Deborah Kerr, Clifford Evans, Dennis Arundell, Henry Oscar, Herbet Lomas and Edward Rigby. The film depicts the life of the Quaker found ...

'' (1942) - (uncredited) * '' Hatter's Castle'' (1942) - Dr. Lawrie * '' Let the People Sing'' (1942) - (uncredited) * ''

My Learned Friend ''My Learned Friend'' is a 1943 British, black-and-white, comedy, farce, directed by Basil Dearden with his regular collaborator, Will Hay, as the film's star in the role of William Fitch. The principal supporting roles were taken by Claude H ...

'' (1943) - Sir Norman * '' On Approval'' (1944) - Parkes * ''

Hotel Reserve ''Hotel Reserve'' is a 1944 British spy film starring James Mason as an innocent man caught up in pre-Second World War espionage. Other cast members include Lucie Mannheim, Raymond Lovell and Herbert Lom. It was based on Eric Ambler's 1938 novel ...

'' (1944) - Police Commissioner * '' Love Story'' (1944) - Angus Rossiter * '' Waterloo Road'' (1945) - Traveller to Basingstoke (uncredited) * ''

The Life and Adventures of Nicholas Nickleby ''Nicholas Nickleby'' or ''The Life and Adventures of Nicholas Nickleby'' (or also ''The Life and Adventures of Nicholas Nickleby, Containing a Faithful Account of the Fortunes, Misfortunes, Uprisings, Downfallings, and Complete Career of the ...

'' (1947) - Mr. Gride * ''

Mine Own Executioner ''Mine Own Executioner'' is a 1947 British psychological thriller drama film starring Burgess Meredith and directed by Anthony Kimmins, and based on the novel of the same name by Nigel Balchin. It was entered into the 1947 Cannes Film Festival. ...

'' (1947) - Dr. Lefage (final film role)

References

External links

* * * * {{DEFAULTSORT:Hanray, Laurence 1874 births 1947 deaths English male film actors English male stage actors 20th-century English male actors People from Hampstead