Owen Ramsay Nares (11 August 1888 – 30 July 1943) was an English stage and film actor. Besides his acting career, he was the author of ''Myself, and Some Others'' (1925).

Early life

Educated at

Reading School Reading School is a grammar school for boys with Academy (English school), academy status in the England, English town of Reading, Berkshire, Reading, the county of Berkshire. It traces its history back to the school of Reading Abbey and is, thu ...

, Nares was encouraged by his mother to become an actor, and in 1908 he received his training from actress Rosina Filippi. The following year, he was playing bit parts in West End productions, including the St. James’s Theatre and the Pinero’s Mid Channel. Over the next few years, as his reputation grew, he performed with many of the outstanding actors of the era, including Beerbohm Tree, Constance Collier, and Marion Terry.

Career

In 1914, Nares appeared in ''Dandy Donovan'', the first of the 25 silent films in which he appeared. The early 1920s was his golden period and he was the male lead opposite such actresses as

Gladys Cooper Dame Gladys Constance Cooper, (18 December 1888 – 17 November 1971) was an English actress, theatrical manager and producer, whose career spanned seven decades on stage, in films and on television. Beginning as a teenager in Edwardian musi ...

Fay Compton Virginia Lilian Emmeline Compton-Mackenzie, (; 18 September 1894 – 12 December 1978), known professionally as Fay Compton, was an English actress. She appeared in several films, and made many broadcasts, but was best known for her stage per ...

, Madge Titheradge and Daisy Burrell. His stage career also continued to flourish. In 1915, he played Thomas Armstrong, opposite

Doris Keane Doris Keane (December 12, 1881 – November 25, 1945) was an American actress, primarily in live theatre. Early life and family Keane was born in Michigan to Joseph Keane and Florence Winter. She was educated privately in Chicago, New York, Pa ...

, in Edward Sheldon's '' Romance''; it opened at the

Duke of York's Theatre The Duke of York's Theatre is a West End theatre in St Martin's Lane, in the City of Westminster, London. It was built for Frank Wyatt and his wife, Violet Melnotte, who retained ownership of the theatre until her death in 1935. Designed by t ...

, transferring during the run to the Lyric Theatre. In 1917, he starred with

Lily Elsie Elsie Cotton (''née'' Hodder, 8 April 1886 – 16 December 1962), known professionally as Lily Elsie, was an English actress and singer during the Edwardian era. She was best known for her starring role in the London premiere of Franz Lehár's ...

at the Palace Theatre in the musical comedy, ''Pamela''. He appeared opposite

Meggie Albanesi Margherita Cecilia Brigida Lucia Maria Albanesi (8 October 1899—9 December 1923) was a British stage and film actress. Life and career She was born in London on 8 October 1899. Her father was Italian-born Carlo Albanesi (1856-1926), a pianis ...

in '' The First and the Last'' for a long-run during the 1920s. In 1925, he appeared in ''

The River The River may refer to: Films * ''The River'' (1929 film), an American film by Frank Borzage * ''The River'' (1933 film), a Czech film by Josef Rovenský * ''The River'' (1938 film), an American film by Pare Lorentz * ''The River'' (1951 fi ...

'' by

Patrick Hastings Sir Patrick Gardiner Hastings (17 March 1880 – 26 February 1952) was an English barrister and politician noted for his long and highly successful career as a barrister and his short stint as Attorney General for England and Wales, Attorney G ...

. Nares continued to star in popular West End shows, almost without pause, until 1926, when he then took a break and set off with his own company for a tour of

South Africa South Africa, officially the Republic of South Africa (RSA), is the southernmost country in Africa. It is bounded to the south by of coastline that stretch along the South Atlantic and Indian Oceans; to the north by the neighbouring count ...

Later years

With the advent of

talkies A sound film is a motion picture with synchronization, synchronized sound, or sound technologically coupled to image, as opposed to a silent film. The first known public exhibition of projected sound films took place in Paris in 1900, but decad ...

, his considerable stage experience meant that, in the early days, he was still much in demand and starred in four films. He was, however, too mature to be the youthful, handsome star he had been a decade earlier. In the last six films he made, he played supporting roles. In 1942, he appeared in a revival of Robert E. Sherwood’s ''The Petrified Forrest'', and afterwards he went on tour with the play to

Northern England Northern England, also known as the North of England, the North Country, or simply the North, is the northern area of England. It broadly corresponds to the former borders of Angle Northumbria, the Anglo-Scandinavian Kingdom of Jorvik, and the ...

and Wales.

Family

Nares married actress Marie Pollini in 1910; the couple had two sons, David and Geoffrey.

Death

During tour through

Wales Wales ( cy, Cymru ) is a Countries of the United Kingdom, country that is part of the United Kingdom. It is bordered by England to the Wales–England border, east, the Irish Sea to the north and west, the Celtic Sea to the south west and the ...

, touring Army training camps, he visited

Brecon Brecon (; cy, Aberhonddu; ), archaically known as Brecknock, is a market town in Powys, mid Wales. In 1841, it had a population of 5,701. The population in 2001 was 7,901, increasing to 8,250 at the 2011 census. Historically it was the coun ...

, and the ''Shoulder of Mutton'' (now the ''Sarah Siddons public house''), the birthplace of actress

Sarah Siddons Sarah Siddons (''née'' Kemble; 5 July 1755 – 8 June 1831) was a Welsh actress, the best-known tragedienne of the 18th century. Contemporaneous critic William Hazlitt dubbed Siddons as "tragedy personified". She was the elder sister of J ...

. While touring the room where Siddons was born, Nares had a heart attack and died shortly afterwards, aged 54, on 30 July 1943.

Filmography

*''Danny Donovan, the Gentleman Cracksman'' (1914) - Frank Ashworth *''

Just a Girl "Just a Girl" is a song by American band No Doubt for their third studio album, '' Tragic Kingdom'' (1995). Released as the record's lead single in the United States on September 21, 1995, it was written by Gwen Stefani and Tom Dumont, and pr ...

'' (1916) - Lord Trafford *'' Milestones'' (1916) - Lord Monkhurst *'' The Sorrows of Satan'' (1917) - Geoffrey Tempest *''

The Labour Leader ''The Labour Leader'' is a 1917 British silent drama film directed by Thomas Bentley and starring Fred Groves, Fay Compton and Owen Nares. The film was based on an original screenplay by Kenelm Foss.Low p.70 Plot summary After his friend imp ...

'' (1917) - Gilbert Hazlitt *''

One Summer's Day ''One Summer's Day'' is a 1917 British silent drama film directed by Frank Goodenough Bayly and starring Fay Compton, Owen Nares and Sam Livesey.Goble p.895 Cast * Fay Compton as Maisie * Owen Nares as Captain Dick Rudyard * Sam Livesey as ...

'' (1917) - Captain Dick Rudyard *'' Flames'' (1917) - Valentine Creswell *''Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Sailor'' (1918) - John Tinker *'' The Man Who Won'' (1918) - Captain Bert Brook *'' Onward Christian Soldiers'' (1918) - The Soldier *''Gamblers All'' (1919) - Harold Tempest *'' Edge O' Beyond'' (1919) - Dr. Cecil Lawson *''

The Elder Miss Blossom ''The Elder Miss Blossom'' (also released under the titles ''Wanted a Wife'' and ''Choosing a Wife'') is a 1918 British silent drama film directed by Percy Nash and starring Isobel Elsom, Minna Grey and Owen Nares. It was shot at Isleworth Studio ...

'' (1919) - Curate *''

The Last Rose of Summer "The Last Rose of Summer" is a poem by the Irish poet Thomas Moore. He wrote it in 1805, while staying at Jenkinstown Castle in County Kilkenny, Ireland, where he was said to have been inspired by a specimen of Rosa 'Old Blush'. The poem is ...

'' (1920) - Oliver Selwyn *'' A Temporary Gentleman'' (1920) - Walter Hope *'' All the Winners'' (1920) - Tim Hawker *'' For Her Father's Sake'' (1921) - Walter Cardew *''

Brown Sugar Brown sugar is unrefined or partially refined soft sugar. Brown Sugar may also refer to: Arts, entertainment, and media Films * ''Brown Sugar'' (1922 film), a 1922 British silent film directed by Fred Paul * ''Brown Sugar'' (1931 film), a 1931 ...

'' (1922) - Lord Sloane *'' The Faithful Heart'' (1922) - Waverley Ango *'' The Indian Love Lyrics'' (1923) - Prince Zahindin *'' Young Lochinvar'' (1923) - Lochinvar *''

Miriam Rozella ''Miriam Rozella'' is a 1924 British silent drama film directed by Sidney Morgan and starring Moyna Macgill, Owen Nares and Gertrude McCoy. Cast * Moyna Macgill as Miriam Rozella * Owen Nares as Rudolph * Gertrude McCoy as Lura Wood * He ...

'' (1924) - Rudolph *''

This Marriage Business ''This Marriage Business'' is a 1938 American comedy film directed by Christy Cabanne from a screenplay by Gladys Atwater and J. Robert Bren, based on a story by Mel Riddle and Alex Rubin. The film stars Allan Lane, Jack Carson, Victor Moore, an ...

'' (1927) - Robert *'' Loose Ends'' (1930) - Malcolm Ferres *'' The Middle Watch'' (1930) - Captain Maitland *'' The Woman Between'' (1931) - Tom Smith *'' Sunshine Susie'' (1931) - Herr Arvray *''

Frail Women ''Frail Women'' is a 1932 British drama film directed by Maurice Elvey and starring Mary Newcomb, Owen Nares, Frank Pettingell and Herbert Lomas (actor), Herbert Lomas. In the years after World War I a Colonel marries his war-time mistress. It ...

'' (1932) - The Man - Colonel Leonard Harvey *'' Aren't We All?'' (1932) - Willie *''

The Impassive Footman ''The Impassive Footman'' is a 1932 British, low-budget "quota quickie" drama film directed by Basil Dean and starring Owen Nares, Betty Stockfeld, Allan Jeayes and George Curzon. The film's sets were designed by Edward Carrick. It was also rele ...

'' (1932) - Bryan Daventry *''

The Love Contract ''The Love Contract'' is a 1932 British musical film directed by Herbert Selpin and starring Winifred Shotter, Owen Nares and Sunday Wilshin. The screenplay concerns a young woman who becomes the driver of a wealthy stockbroker who lost her f ...

'' (1932) - Neville Cardington *'' There Goes the Bride'' (1932) - Max *''

Where Is This Lady? ''Where Is This Lady?'' is a 1932 British musical film directed by Victor Hanbury and Ladislao Vajda and starring Mártha Eggerth, Owen Nares and Wendy Barrie. It was made at Elstree Studios.Wood p.76 An operetta film, it is a remake of the Germa ...

'' (1932) - Rudi Muller *''

Discord Discord is a VoIP and instant messaging social platform. Users have the ability to communicate with voice calls, video calls, text messaging, media and files in private chats or as part of communities called "servers".The developer documenta ...

'' (1933) - Peter Stenning *'' One Precious Year'' (1933) - Stephen Carton *''

The Private Life of Don Juan ''The Private Life of Don Juan'' is a 1934 British comedy-drama film directed by Alexander Korda and starring Douglas Fairbanks, Merle Oberon and Benita Hume. At the age of 51, it was the final role of Fairbanks, who died five years later. T ...

'' (1934) - Antonio Martinez *''

Royal Cavalcade ''Royal Cavalcade'', also known as ''Regal Cavalcade'', is a 1935 British, black-and-white, drama film directed by six separate directors: Thomas Bentley (Supervising Director), Herbert Brenon, Norman Lee, Walter Summers, W. P. Kellino and Ma ...

'' (1935) - Gentleman *'' I Give My Heart'' (1935) - Louis XV *''

Head Office Headquarters (commonly referred to as HQ) denotes the location where most, if not all, of the important functions of an organization are coordinated. In the United States, the corporate headquarters represents the entity at the center or the to ...

'' (1936) - Henry Crossman *''

The Show Goes On The Show Goes On may refer to: * ''The Show Goes On'' (film), a 1937 British musical comedy film * ''The Show Goes On'' (1936 film), or ''Three Maxims'', a British drama directed by Herbert Wilcox * ''The Show Goes On'' (TV series), a 1950–195 ...

'' (1937) - Martin Fraser *'' The Prime Minister'' (1941) - Lord Derby (Last appearance)

Selected stage roles

* '' Milestones'' (1912) * ''

Diplomacy Diplomacy comprises spoken or written communication by representatives of states (such as leaders and diplomats) intended to influence events in the international system.Ronald Peter Barston, ''Modern diplomacy'', Pearson Education, 2006, p. 1 ...

'' (1913) * '' Peter Ibbetson'' (1915) * '' Romance'' (1915) * '' Mr. Todd's Experiment'' (1920) * ''

'' (1925) * '' Call It a Day'' (1935)

References

External links

Performances listed in the Theatre Collection Archive at the University of Bristol
* {{DEFAULTSORT:Nares, Owen 1888 births 1943 deaths English male stage actors English male film actors English male silent film actors People from Earley People educated at Reading School 20th-century English male actors