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Charles J. Dillon (1819 – 27 June 1881) was an English
actor-manager An actor-manager is a leading actor who sets up their own permanent theatrical company and manages the business, sometimes taking over a theatre to perform select plays in which they usually star. It is a method of theatrical production used ...
and
tragedian Tragedy (from the grc-gre, τραγῳδία, ''tragōidia'', ''tragōidia'') is a genre of drama based on human suffering and, mainly, the terrible or sorrowful events that befall a main character. Traditionally, the intention of tragedy i ...
. In 1840, he appeared at the City Theatre, London, as ''
Hamlet ''The Tragedy of Hamlet, Prince of Denmark'', often shortened to ''Hamlet'' (), is a tragedy written by William Shakespeare sometime between 1599 and 1601. It is Shakespeare's longest play, with 29,551 words. Set in Denmark, the play depi ...
'', giving a performance which attracted some critical attention. He toured extensively, to improve his reputation. Becoming actor-manager of the Theatre Royal, Wolverhampton in 1848, in partnership with comedian Henry Widdicombe. In 1856, at age 37, he returned to London, acting at
Sadler's Wells Sadler's Wells Theatre is a performing arts venue in Clerkenwell, London, England located on Rosebery Avenue next to New River Head. The present-day theatre is the sixth on the site since 1683. It consists of two performance spaces: a 1,500-se ...
, his success was decisive. From "the Wells" he went to the
Lyceum The lyceum is a category of educational institution defined within the education system of many countries, mainly in Europe. The definition varies among countries; usually it is a type of secondary school. Generally in that type of school the ...
, where he became manager on 29 September 1856, becoming manager of the
Theatre Royal, Drury Lane The Theatre Royal, Drury Lane, commonly known as Drury Lane, is a West End theatre and Grade I listed building in Covent Garden, London, England. The building faces Catherine Street (earlier named Bridges or Brydges Street) and backs onto ...
in 1857. In 1860–61, he left England with his wife, Clara, for a tour around the world. Their first stop was America, and on 18 April 1861 he appeared at the
Winter Garden A winter garden is a kind of garden maintained in wintertime. History The origin of the winter garden dates back to the 17th to 19th centuries where European nobility would construct large conservatories that would house tropical and subtro ...
, as ''Belphégor''. The American Civil War was underway at that time, affecting trade in the theatres. In California he was well received, performing for 100 consecutive nights at the Metropolitan Theatre, San Francisco. Their next stop was Australia, and Mr and Mrs Dillon and child arrived in Melbourne, by the ship ''Torrent'', in October 1862. Mrs Dillon's first appearance on the Australian stage was at the Royal Haymarket in February 1863. Later that month she played Ophelia to Dillon's
Prince Hamlet A prince is a male ruler (ranked below a king, grand prince, and grand duke) or a male member of a monarch's or former monarch's family. ''Prince'' is also a title of nobility (often highest), often hereditary, in some European states. Th ...
at the
Lyceum The lyceum is a category of educational institution defined within the education system of many countries, mainly in Europe. The definition varies among countries; usually it is a type of secondary school. Generally in that type of school the ...
. They spent two years touring Australia, Tasmania being their last engagement. In December 1864 Mr and Mrs Dillon and daughter left for New Zealand, then returned to America and filled engagements throughout the country, reaching New York City in the spring of 1866. On 16 May he appeared at
Niblo's Garden Niblo's Garden was a theater on Broadway and Crosby Street, near Prince Street, in SoHo, Manhattan, New York City. It was established in 1823 as "Columbia Garden" which in 1828 gained the name of the ''Sans Souci'' and was later the property of ...
, as ''Belphégor''. His subsequent tours of American cities were managed by George Wood, but they were not successful, and the family returned to England, where they continuing to tour until his death.


Personal life

Dillon had two sons and a daughter – with a woman named Silver – they also entered the theatre. Charles Silver, who adopted the name Dillon, constructed and owned the
Theatre Royal Stratford East The Theatre Royal Stratford East is a 460 seat Victorian producing theatre in Stratford in the London Borough of Newham. Since 1953, it has been the home of the Theatre Workshop company, famously associated with director Joan Littlewood, whos ...
in 1884. The elder Dillon married Clara Conquest (1826–4 July 1888), daughter of Benjamin Oliver Conquest, manager of the
Garrick Garrick may refer to: * Garrick (name), for the name's origin and people with either the surname or given name, the most famous being: ** David Garrick (1717–1779), English actor * Garrick Club, a London gentlemen's club named in honour of David ...
and Grecian Theatres, where her mother was ballet master. Her own stage career began at the Garrick, and she assumed leading juvenile roles at the Grecian. Together, they had one daughter, Clara, who married the actor Henry George. Dillon suddenly dropped dead 27 June 1881 in the main street of
Hawick Hawick ( ; sco, Haaick; gd, Hamhaig) is a town in the Scottish Borders council area and historic county of Roxburghshire in the east Southern Uplands of Scotland. It is south-west of Jedburgh and south-south-east of Selkirk. It is one o ...
, having played Othello the previous night. His remains are buried in
Brompton Cemetery Brompton Cemetery (originally the West of London and Westminster Cemetery) is a London cemetery, managed by The Royal Parks, in West Brompton in the Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea. It is one of the Magnificent Seven cemeteries. Es ...
, London. Mrs Dillon died 4 July 1888, in
Portsmouth Portsmouth ( ) is a port and city status in the United Kingdom, city in the ceremonial county of Hampshire in southern England. The city of Portsmouth has been a Unitary authorities of England, unitary authority since 1 April 1997 and is admi ...
. A son, W. C. Dillon, also known for playing Belphégor, "trod the boards" in Australia 1877–1881 before returning to England, where he failed to live up to expectations.


Notes


References

*
Winter Winter is the coldest season of the year in Polar regions of Earth, polar and temperate climates. It occurs after autumn and before spring (season), spring. The tilt of Axial tilt#Earth, Earth's axis causes seasons; winter occurs when a Hemi ...
, ''
The Wallet of Time ''The Wallet of Time'' is a publication by William Winter, published in two volumes in 1913. Overview The book focuses on American stage actors and actresses, most of whom had been born in Europe, of the nineteenth century and the first decade of ...
'' (New York, 1913) {{DEFAULTSORT:Dillon, Charles 1819 births 1881 deaths English male stage actors English theatre managers and producers Actor-managers Burials at Brompton Cemetery 19th-century English male actors 19th-century theatre managers 19th-century English businesspeople