Agnes Ethel (May 1, 1846 – May 26, 1903) was a

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actress of the late 19th century. She performed in

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, the city of her birth, from 1868 to 1871. Her married name was Agnes Ethel Tracy.''Obituary 1—No Title'', ''

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'', May 27, 1903, pg. 9. She was especially talented in acting emotional roles."Mrs. Agnes Ethel Tracy Dying", ''

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Daily Courier'', May 26, 1903, pg. 2.

Theatrical career

She was a

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of Mathilde Heron (1830–1877) and made her stage debut in ''Camille'' (1868), at Jerome's private theatre in New York. It was situated on the southeast corner of Twenty-Sixth Street. She studied for a year afterward, accepting minor parts. Ethel and

Fanny Davenport Fanny Lily Gipsey Davenport (April 10, 1850 – September 26, 1898) was an American stage actress. Life The eldest child of Edward Loomis Davenport and Fanny Elizabeth (Vining) Gill Davenport, Fanny Lily Gypsey Davenport was born on April 10 ...

were among the actors in a production of a comedy, ''Dreams'', by

T. W. Robertson Thomas William Robertson (9 January 1829 – 3 February 1871) was an English dramatist and stage director known for his development of Naturalism (theatre), naturalism in British theatre. Born to a theatrical family, Robertson began as an acto ...

. It began playing at the Fifth Avenue Theatre on August 16, 1869."Amusement", ''The New York Times'', August 7, 1869, pg. 4. She was in the first production of ''Frou Frou'' in the United States. The

Augustin Daly John Augustin Daly (July 20, 1838 – June 7, 1899) was one of the most influential men in American theatre during his lifetime. Drama critic, theatre manager, playwright, and adapter, he became the first recognized stage director in America. He ...

stock company staged it at the Fifth Avenue Theatre, 24th Street, one door from

, on February 15, 1870. Kate Newton, Davenport, and George Clarke were other cast members."'Frou Frou' To Be Revived", ''The New York Times'', May 3, 1902, pg. 9. Ethel appeared in ''Fernande'', also at the Fifth Avenue Theatre, in June 1870. A critic wrote that her acting was her best thus far. In September 1872 Ethel appeared in ''Agnes'', presented by the

Union Square Theatre Union Square Theatre was the name of two different theatres near Union Square, Manhattan, New York City. The first was a Broadway theatre that opened in 1870, was converted into a cinema in 1921 and closed in 1936.(8 October 1921)Two landmarks ...

. The play was written especially for her by

Victorien Sardou Victorien Sardou ( , ; 5 September 1831 – 8 November 1908) was a French dramatist. He is best remembered today for his development, along with Eugène Scribe, of the well-made play. He also wrote several plays that were made into popular 19th-c ...

. It ran for one hundred nights.Brown, Thomas Allston, ''A History of the New York Stage from the First Performance in 1732'', Dodd, Mead, and Company, 1903, pg. 147. She retired at the height of her career for quiet domesticity. She took part in charities and assisted struggling actors and actresses. She performed only twice more on stage, appearing on both occasions in support of charity.

Marriages

Ethel married Francis W. Tracy, a millionaire from

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in October 1873."Personals", ''

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'', October 27, 1873, pg. 2. Tracy died in 1886. His will was contested by his first wife for her daughter. The entire fortune was awarded to Ethel after it was contested in court. In October 1890 she married Clinton DeWitt Roudebush. She obtained a divorce from him in 1901.

Death

Ethel died in 1903 at 80 Irving Place in New York City. She is buried in Buffalo. The cause of death was

heart disease Cardiovascular disease (CVD) is any disease involving the heart or blood vessels. CVDs constitute a class of diseases that includes: coronary artery diseases (e.g. angina pectoris, angina, myocardial infarction, heart attack), heart failure, ...

which began a year earlier. She was engaged to marry theatrical manager Francis Mahler when she died. The wedding had been postponed because of Ethel's protracted sickness."Agnes Ethel Tracy Dead", ''The New York Times'', May 27, 1903, pg. 16.

References

External links

Agnes Ethel

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Digital Gallery photos {{DEFAULTSORT:Ethel, Agnes 19th-century American actresses American stage actresses 1846 births 1903 deaths