Fay Davis (December 15, 1872 – March 1, 1945) was an American stage actress from

Boston, Massachusetts Boston is the capital and most populous city in the Commonwealth (U.S. state), Commonwealth of Massachusetts in the United States. The city serves as the cultural and Financial centre, financial center of New England, a region of the Northeas ...

, who was a star of many Shakespearean plays.

Early life

Fay Davis was born December 15, 1872, in

. She attended the Winthrop School in Boston and a school of oratory. Davis studied under the

monologist A monologist (), or interchangeably monologuist (), is a solo artist who recitation, recites or gives oral interpretation, dramatic readings from a monologue, soliloquy, poetry, or work of literature, for the entertainment of an audience. The te ...

Leland Powers. Davis became popular as a reciter in Boston and other places in New England. She also acted as an amateur in her hometown.

Career

Davis came to

England England is a Countries of the United Kingdom, country that is part of the United Kingdom. It is located on the island of Great Britain, of which it covers about 62%, and List of islands of England, more than 100 smaller adjacent islands. It ...

in 1895 to join the company of Sir Charles Wyndham. She quickly achieved success as Zoe Nuggetson in ''A Squire of Dames''. In 1896 she went to the

St. James's Theatre The St James's Theatre was in King Street, St James's, King Street, St James's, London. It opened in 1835 and was demolished in 1957. The theatre was conceived by and built for a popular singer, John Braham (tenor), John Braham; it lost mone ...

where she remained five years. At this time she played her first roles in productions of the works of

Shakespeare William Shakespeare ( 23 April 1564 – 23 April 1616) was an English playwright, poet and actor. He is widely regarded as the greatest writer in the English language and the world's pre-eminent dramatist. He is often called England's natio ...

. In 1902 Davis returned to America and made her debut at the Empire Theatre under

Charles Frohman Charles Frohman (July 15, 1856 – May 7, 1915) was an American theater manager and producer, who discovered and promoted many stars of the American stage. Frohman produced over 700 shows, and among his biggest hits was '' Peter Pan'', both ...

. For Frohman, Davis appeared as Wilhelmina in ''Imprudence''. In the first decade of the twentieth century she acted in a number of London plays, namely ''Rupert of Hentzau'', ''A Debt of Honour'', ''The Wisdom of the Wise'', ''Iris'', and ''Caesar's Wife''. She returned to England in 1906, acting in the provinces and then London. In the latter she appeared in leading roles in ''

Henry V Henry V may refer to: People * Henry V, Duke of Bavaria (died 1026) * Henry V, Holy Roman Emperor (1081/86–1125) * Henry V, Duke of Carinthia (died 1161) * Henry V, Count Palatine of the Rhine (–1227) * Henry V, Count of Luxembourg (1216–1281 ...

'', ''

Romeo and Juliet ''The Tragedy of Romeo and Juliet'', often shortened to ''Romeo and Juliet'', is a Shakespearean tragedy, tragedy written by William Shakespeare about the romance between two young Italians from feuding families. It was among Shakespeare's ...

'', ''

The Merchant of Venice ''The Merchant of Venice'' is a play by William Shakespeare, believed to have been written between 1596 and 1598. A merchant in Venice named Antonio defaults on a large loan taken out on behalf of his dear friend, Bassanio, and provided by a ...

'', and ''Twelfth Night''. In 1910 she played in ''Trelawny of the Wells'' in London. In 1914 she appeared in a film of ''

Enoch Arden ''Enoch Arden'' is a narrative poem by Alfred, Lord Tennyson, published in 1864 during his tenure as British poet laureate. The story on which it was based was allegedly provided to Tennyson by Thomas Woolner. The poem lends its name to a ...

''. During World War I Davis was in ''Searchlights'' and ''Daddy Long-Legs''. Her final London shows were ''The Heart of a Child'' (1921), ''The Second Mrs. Tanqueray'' (1922), ''Secret Service'' (1926), ''Hamlet'' (1930), and ''The Shadow Princess'' and ''On The Rocks'' (1933). Her final professional appearance was at the

Winter Garden Theatre The Winter Garden Theatre is a Broadway theatre at 1634 Broadway in the Midtown Manhattan neighborhood of New York City, New York, U.S. Originally designed by architect William Albert Swasey, it opened in 1911. The Winter Garden's current des ...

in London in 1933, although she later made two appearances onstage in wartime fundraising galas in 1939 and 1942.

Personal life

She was married to the actor

Gerald Lawrence Gerald Leslie Lawrence (23 March 1873 – 9 May 1957) was a British actor and Actor-manager, manager. Lawrence was born in London in 1873, the son of Emily Mills ''née'' Asher (1832-1912) and John Moss Lawrence (1827-1888), an investor. Lawre ...

. Their daughter, Marjorie Fay Lawrence (b.1908) was murdered in 1930.''News Chronicle'', 7th July 1930.

Death

Davis died in

Exmouth Exmouth is a harbor, port town, civil parishes in England, civil parish and seaside resort situated on the east bank of the mouth of the River Exe, southeast of Exeter. In 2011 it had a population of 34,432, making Exmouth the List of settl ...

, England in 1945.

References

* ''

The New York Times ''The New York Times'' (''NYT'') is an American daily newspaper based in New York City. ''The New York Times'' covers domestic, national, and international news, and publishes opinion pieces, investigative reports, and reviews. As one of ...

'', "Fay Davis Is Dead; Noted Actress, 72", February 27, 1945, Page 19.

External links

* * {{DEFAULTSORT:Davis Fay 1872 births 1945 deaths 19th-century American actresses American stage actresses 20th-century American actresses Actresses from Boston American expatriate actresses American expatriates in England American Shakespearean actresses