Henry Harris (actor)

Henry Harris (c. 1634 – 1704) was an English stage actor and theatre manager. Initially a painter he was a founder member of the new Duke's Company in 1660 following the Restoration which established itself at the old Salisbury Court Theatre before moving to the new Lincoln's Inn Fields Theatre shortly afterwards. Due to his background Harris may have been a set designer and painter during his early years with the company. However, by 1661 he was acting, and his first recorded role was in William Davenant's '' The Siege of Rhodes'' that summer. He quickly established himself as the second actor in the troupe after Thomas Betterton.

In 1663 he was briefly arrested, likely due to an attempt to change allegiance to the rival King's Company which was illegal at the time. The dispute seemed to be over pay, and he remained with the Duke's Company. In these years he also mentored an emerging actor Joseph Williams who would go on to have a long stage career of his own. In 1664 Harris played Cardinal Wolsey in a revival of ''Henry VIII'', a widely celebrated performance. He befriended Samuel Pepys in 1667–68 and features in his diary.

When William Davenant died in 1668, Harris and Betterton took over management of the Duke's Company. In 1671 they led the company to the new Dorset Garden Theatre, and Harris took an apartment in the same building. In 1673 he was involved in onstage accident when fellow actor Philip Cademan was seriously injured during a swordfight. Harris was known for his fast living and enjoyed mixing in high society, running up heavy debts. Increasingly during the late 1670s several of his roles were taken over by William Smith, who succeeded him as manager of the Company in 1681 when Harris stepped back from active participation in the theatre. However he continued to remain a shareholder in the Dorset Garden venue although this brought him less revenue due to the merged United Company basing itself at Drury Lane.

In his later years he mostly survived on government sinecures. He died on 3 August 1704 and was buried at St Paul's in Covent Garden, a church closely associated with actors.Highfill, Burnim & Langhans p.131

Harris also spent time as the Chief Engraver of the Royal Mint.

Selected roles

* Alphonso in '' The Siege of Rhodes'' by William Davenant (1661)
* Young Palatine in '' The Wits'' by William Davenant (1661)
* Young Trueman in '' The Cutter of Coleman Street'' by Abraham Cowley (1661)
* Duke Ferdinand in ''The Duchess of Malfi'' by John Webster (1662)
* Monsieur Beaupre in '' The Villain'' by Thomas Porter (1662)
* Salerno in '' The Slighted Maid'' by Robert Stapylton (1663)
* Antonio in '' The Adventures of Five Hours'' by Samuel Tuke (1663)
* Henry V in ''Henry V'' by William Shakespeare (1664)
* Theocles in ''The Rivals'' by William Davenant (1664)
* Sir Frederick Frolick in '' The Comical Revenge'' by George Etherege (1664)
* Cardinal Wolsey in ''Henry VIII'' by William Shakespeare (1664)
* Mustapha in '' Mustapha'' by Roger Boyle (1665)
* Duke of Richmond in '' The English Princess'' by John Caryll (1667)
* Warner in '' Sir Martin Mar-all'' by John Dryden (1667)
* Sir Joslin in '' She Would If She Could'' by George Etherege (1668)
* Sir Positive At-All in '' The Sullen Lovers'' by Thomas Shadwell (1668)
* Tysamnes in '' The Women's Conquest'' by Edward Howard (1670)
* Peregrine Woodland in '' Sir Solomon Single'' by John Caryll (1670)
* Prexaspes in '' Cambyses, King Of Persia'' by Elkanah Settle (1671)
* Ferdinand in ''Charles VIII of France'' by John Crowne (1671)
* Sir Franckman in '' The Six Days' Adventure'' by Edward Howard (1671)
* Cardinal in ''Juliana'' by John Crowne (1671)
* Rains in '' Epsom Wells'' by Thomas Shadwell (1672)
* Trickmore in '' The Citizen Turned Gentleman'' by Edward Ravenscroft (1672)
* Merry in '' The Morning Ramble'' by Henry Nevil Payne (1672)
* Don Fenise in '' The Spanish Rogue'' by Thomas Duffett (1673)
* Antonio in ''The Reformation'' by Joseph Arrowsmith (1673)
* Muly Labas in ''The Empress of Morocco'' by Elkanah Settle (1673)
* Theramnes in ''Alcibiades'' by Thomas Otway (1675)
* Zungteus in '' The Conquest of China'' by Elkanah Settle (1675)
* Araspes in '' Gloriana'' by Nathaniel Lee (1676)
* Ulama in '' Ibrahim'' by Elkanah Settle (1676)
* Ferdinand in ''Abdelazer'' by Aphra Behn (1676)
* Medly in ''The Man of Mode'' by George Etherege (1676)
* Merry in '' The Country Wit'' by John Crowne (1676)
* Don John in ''Don Carlos, Prince of Spain'' by Thomas Otway (1676)
* Don Gusmun in '' The Wrangling Lovers'' by Edward Ravenscroft (1676)
* Thoas in ''Circe'' by Charles Davenant (1677)
*Cassander in '' The Siege of Babylon'' by Samuel Pordage (1677)
* Ranger in ''A Fond Husband'' by Thomas D'Urfey (1677)
* Tiresias in ''Oedipus'' by John Dryden (1678)
* Antonio in ''The Counterfeits'' by John Leanerd (1678)
* Valentine in '' Friendship in Fashion'' by Thomas Otway (1678)
* Hector in '' The Destruction of Troy'' by John Banks (1678)
* Beverly in '' The Virtuous Wife'' by Thomas D'Urfey (1679)
* King in '' The Loyal General'' by Nahum Tate (1679)
* Ulysses in ''Troilus and Cressida'' by John Dryden (1679)
* Cardinal in '' Henry VI, Part I'' by William Shakespeare (1681)

References

Bibliography

* Highfill, Philip H, Burnim, Kalman A. & Langhans, Edward A. ''A Biographical Dictionary of Actors, Actresses, Musicians, Dancers, Managers, and Other Stage Personnel in London, 1660–1800''. SIU Press, 1982.
* Van Lennep, W. ''The London Stage, 1660–1800: Volume One, 1660–1700''. Southern Illinois University Press, 1960.

{{DEFAULTSORT:Harris, Henry
18th-century English people
English male stage actors
17th-century English male actors
English theatre managers and producers
Male actors from London
1630s births
1704 deaths
English engravers
17th-century engravers