Lewis Morrison (September 4, 1844 – August 18, 1906) was a Jamaican-born American

stage actor An actor or actress is a person who portrays a character in a performance. The actor performs "in the flesh" in the traditional medium of the theatre or in modern media such as film, radio, and television. The analogous Greek term is (), lite ...

and theatrical manager, born Moritz (or Morris) W. Morris. He was best known for his portrayal of

Mephistopheles Mephistopheles (, ), also known as Mephisto, is a demon featured in German folklore. He originally appeared in literature as the demon in the Faust legend, and he has since appeared in other works as a stock character (see: Mephistopheles in t ...

in his own production of ''

Faust Faust is the protagonist of a classic German legend based on the historical Johann Georg Faust ( 1480–1540). The erudite Faust is highly successful yet dissatisfied with his life, which leads him to make a pact with the Devil at a crossroads ...

'', which he performed from 1885 to 1906. He was the father of actress

Adrienne Morrison Mabel Adrienne Morrison (March 1, 1883 – November 20, 1940) was an American stage actress of the early 20th century. She married actor Richard Bennett, with whom she had three daughters who later would become actresses. Early years Adrienne ...

, and grandfather of

Constance Constance may refer to: Places *Konstanz, Germany, sometimes written as Constance in English *Constance Bay, Ottawa, Canada * Constance, Kentucky * Constance, Minnesota * Constance (Portugal) * Mount Constance, Washington State People * Consta ...

, Barbara and

Joan Bennett Joan Geraldine Bennett (February 27, 1910 – December 7, 1990) was an American stage, film, and television actress. She came from a show-business family, one of three acting sisters. Beginning her career on the stage, Bennett appeared in more t ...

Biography

Lewis Morrison, stage actor (SAYRE 7017)

Born Morris W. Morris, after the Civil War he became a stage actor using the name Lewis Morrison. He first performed in New Orleans beginning in minor roles with

Edwin Booth Edwin Thomas Booth (November 13, 1833 – June 7, 1893) was an American actor who toured throughout the United States and the major capitals of Europe, performing Shakespearean plays. In 1869, he founded Booth's Theatre in New York. Some theatri ...

and

Charlotte Cushman Charlotte Saunders Cushman (July 23, 1816 – February 18, 1876) was an American stage actress. Her voice was noted for its full contralto register, and she was able to play both male and female parts. She lived intermittently in Rome, in an expa ...

until he was featured in larger parts. He became a well-known actor in New Orleans and moved on to the stage in

New York New York most commonly refers to: * New York City, the most populous city in the United States, located in the state of New York * New York (state), a state in the northeastern United States New York may also refer to: Film and television * '' ...

, where he gained greater fame in ''Faust''. He founded his own traveling theater troupe and traveled the world playing the role of Mephistopheles.

Personal life

Morrison was married first to Anglo-American actress Rose Wood. He was the father of actresses Rosabel Morrison and

; grandfather of actresses

, Barbara and

; and great-grandfather of television talk show host

Morton Downey Jr. Sean Morton Downey Jr. (December 9, 1932 – March 12, 2001) was an American television talk show host and actor who pioneered the "trash TV" format in the late-1980s on his program ''The Morton Downey Jr. Show''. Early life Downey's parents we ...

Morrison and Rose Wood were divorced in 1890. He married the much younger stage actress

Florence Roberts Florence Roberts (March 16, 1861/1864 – June 6, 1940(photo included) was an American actress of the stage and in motion pictures. Stock company actress Born in New York City, she began acting onstage there. Her career began at the Brooklyn ...

in 1892.

References

Sources

External links

portrait gallery
(NY Public library, Billy Rose collection) 1844 births 1906 deaths Emigrants from British Jamaica to the United States 19th-century American male actors American male stage actors People of Louisiana in the American Civil War Jewish Confederates {{US-theat-actor-1840s-stub