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 status in the English town of Reading, the county of Berkshire. It traces its history back to the school of Reading Abbey and is, thus, one of the oldest schools in England. There are no ...

, 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 acting, a bit part is a role in which there is direct interaction with the principal actors and no more than five lines of dialogue, often referred to as a five-or-less or under-five in the United States, or under sixes in British televisi ...

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 Constance Collier (born Laura Constance Hardie; 22 January 1878 – 25 April 1955) was an English stage and film actress and acting coach. She wrote hit plays and films with Ivor Novello and she was the first person to be treated with insu ...

, and

Marion Terry Marion Bessie Terry (born Mary Ann Bessy Terry; 13 October 1853 – 21 August 1930) was an English actress. In a career spanning half a century, she played leading roles in more than 125 plays. Always in the shadow of her older and more famous si ...

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 Madge Titheradge (2 July 1887 14 November 1961) was an Australian-born actress who became a leading actress in the West End of London and on Broadway. She began as a child actress before the First World War, and went on to star in the 1920s and ...

and

Daisy Burrell Daisy Burrell (born Daisy Isobel Eaglesfield Ratton; 16 June 1892 – 10 June 1982) was a British stage actress and Edwardian musical comedy performer who also appeared as a leading lady in silent films and in pantomime. In 1951 she appeared i ...

. 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 Romance (from Vulgar Latin , "in the Roman language", i.e., "Latin") may refer to: Common meanings * Romance (love), emotional attraction towards another person and the courtship behaviors undertaken to express the feelings * Romance languages, ...

''; 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 th ...

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

in '' The First and the Last'' for a long-run during the 1920s. In 1925, he appeared in '' The River'' 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. He was educated at Charterhou ...

. 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 countri ...

Later years

With the advent of

talkies A sound film is a motion picture with 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 decades passed before ...

, 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 Robert Emmet Sherwood (April 4, 1896 – November 14, 1955) was an American playwright and screenwriter. He is the author of '' Waterloo Bridge, Idiot's Delight, Abe Lincoln in Illinois, Rebecca, There Shall Be No Night, The Best Years of Our ...

’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 John ...

. 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 pro ...

'' (1916) - Lord Trafford *''

Milestones A milestone is a marker of distance along roads. Milestone may also refer to: Measurements *Milestone (project management), metaphorically, markers of reaching an identifiable stage in any task or the project *Software release life cycle state, s ...

'' (1916) - Lord Monkhurst *''

The Sorrows of Satan ''The Sorrows of Satan'' is an 1895 Faustian novel by Marie Corelli. It is widely regarded as one of the world's first best-sellers – partly due to an upheaval in the system British libraries used to purchase their books, and partly due to its ...

'' (1917) - Geoffrey Tempest *'' The Labour Leader'' (1917) - Gilbert Hazlitt *'' One Summer's Day'' (1917) - Captain Dick Rudyard *''

Flames A flame (from Latin ''flamma'') is the visible, gaseous part of a fire. It is caused by a highly exothermic chemical reaction taking place in a thin zone. When flames are hot enough to have ionized gaseous components of sufficient density they ...

'' (1917) - Valentine Creswell *''Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Sailor'' (1918) - John Tinker *'' The Man Who Won'' (1918) - Captain Bert Brook *''

Onward Christian Soldiers "Onward, Christian Soldiers" is a 19th-century English hymn. The words were written by Sabine Baring-Gould in 1865, and the music was composed by Arthur Sullivan in 1871. Sullivan named the tune "St Gertrude," after the wife of his friend Erne ...

'' (1918) - The Soldier *''Gamblers All'' (1919) - Harold Tempest *''

Edge O' Beyond ''Edge O' Beyond'' is a 1919 British silent drama film directed by Fred W. Durrant and starring Ruby Miller, Owen Nares and Isobel Elsom. It is an adaptation of the 1908 novel '' The Edge O' Beyond'' by Gertrude Page, one of her bestsellers se ...

'' (1919) - Dr. Cecil Lawson *'' The Elder Miss Blossom'' (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 ''A Temporary Gentleman'' is a 1920 British silent comedy film directed by Fred W. Durrant and starring Owen Nares, Madge Titheradge and Alfred Drayton. It was shot at Isleworth Studios.Harris p.65 Plot A clerk's service as subaltern spoil ...

'' (1920) - Walter Hope *''

All the Winners ''All the Winners'' is a 1920 British silent sports film directed by Geoffrey Malins and starring Owen Nares, Maudie Dunham and Sam Livesey. It is set in the horse racing world. It was made at Isleworth Studios.Harris p.65 Cast * Owen Nares ...

'' (1920) - Tim Hawker *''

For Her Father's Sake ''For Her Father's Sake'' is a 1921 British silent drama film directed by Alexander Butler and starring Owen Nares, Isobel Elsom and James Lindsay. It was based on the play ''The Perfect Lover'' by Alfred Sutro. Cast * Owen Nares as Walte ...

'' (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 ''The Indian Love Lyrics'' is a 1923 British silent film, silent romantic drama film directed by Sinclair Hill and starring Catherine Calvert, Owen Nares and Malvina Longfellow.Low p.387 It is based on the poem ''The Garden of Kama'' by Laurence ...

'' (1923) - Prince Zahindin *'' Young Lochinvar'' (1923) - Lochinvar *'' Miriam Rozella'' (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, ...

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

Sunshine Susie ''Sunshine Susie'' is a 1931 British musical comedy film directed by Victor Saville and starring Renate Müller, Jack Hulbert, and Owen Nares. The film was shot at Islington Studios with sets designed by Alex Vetchinsky. It was based on a ...

'' (1931) - Herr Arvray *'' Frail Women'' (1932) - The Man - Colonel Leonard Harvey *''

Aren't We All? ''Aren't We All?'' is a comic play by Frederick Lonsdale. At the core of the drawing room comedy's slim plot is the Hon. William Tatham who, having been consigned to the proverbial doghouse for a romantic indiscretion, is determined to catch hi ...

'' (1932) - Willie *'' The Impassive Footman'' (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?'' (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 ''One Precious Year'' is a 1933 British drama film directed by Henry Edwards and starring Anne Grey, Basil Rathbone and Owen Nares. It was made at British and Dominion Elstree Studios by the British producer Herbert Wilcox for release by the Br ...

'' (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. The f ...

'' (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 Mar ...

'' (1935) - Gentleman *''

I Give My Heart ''I Give My Heart'' (US-Title: ''The Loves of Madame Dubarry'') is a 1935 British historical film adapted from the stage operetta ''The DuBarry'' by Carl Millöcker and arranged by Theo Mackeben. Directed by Marcel Varnel, and produced by Brit ...

'' (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 top ...

'' (1936) - Henry Crossman *'' The Show Goes On'' (1937) - Martin Fraser *'' The Prime Minister'' (1941) - Lord Derby (Last appearance)

Selected stage roles

* ''

'' (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 ''Peter Ibbetson'' is a 1935 American black-and-white drama/ fantasy film directed by Henry Hathaway and starring Gary Cooper and Ann Harding. The film is loosely based on the 1891 novel of the same name by George du Maurier. A tale of a love th ...

'' (1915) * ''

Mr. Todd's Experiment ''Mr. Todd's Experiment'' is a 1920 comedy play by the British-American writer Walter C. Hackett. It ran for 67 performances at the Queen's Theatre in London's West End. The original cast included Owen Nares, Fred Kerr, Meggie Albanesi, Dori ...

'' (1920) * '' The River'' (1925) * ''

Call It a Day ''Call It a Day'' is a 1937 American comedy film directed by Archie Mayo and starring Olivia de Havilland, Ian Hunter, Anita Louise, Alice Brady, Roland Young, and Frieda Inescort. Based on the 1935 play '' Call It a Day'' by Dodie Smith, the ...

'' (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