John Lawrence (J. L.) Toole (12 March 1830 – 30 July 1906) was an English comic actor,

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 co ...

and theatrical producer. He was famous for his roles in farce and in serio-comic melodramas, in a career that spanned more than four decades, and the first actor to have a

West End theatre West End theatre is mainstream professional theatre staged in the large theatres in and near the West End of London.Christopher Innes"West End"in ''The Cambridge Guide to Theatre'' (Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 1998), pp. 1194–1195, ...

named after him.

Life and career

Toole was born in

London London is the Capital city, capital and List of urban areas in the United Kingdom, largest city of both England and the United Kingdom, with a population of in . London metropolitan area, Its wider metropolitan area is the largest in Wester ...

, the younger son of James Toole and his wife, Elizabeth. His father was a messenger for the

East India Company The East India Company (EIC) was an English, and later British, joint-stock company that was founded in 1600 and dissolved in 1874. It was formed to Indian Ocean trade, trade in the Indian Ocean region, initially with the East Indies (South A ...

and for some years an usher at the Old Bailey, who for many years in the 1840s acted as

toastmaster Toastmaster is a general term, prevalent in the United States in the mid-20th century, referring to a person in charge of the proceedings of a public speaking event. The toastmaster is typically charged with organization of the event, arrangi ...

in the City of London.Read, Michael. "Toole, John Lawrence (1830–1906)", ''Oxford Dictionary of National Biography'' (2004), Oxford University Pres
online edn, 2008
accessed 9 June 2008 (requires subscription)"John Lawrence Toole Papers" – 1850-1907, University of Rochester libraries
/ref> He was educated at the

City of London School The City of London School, also known as CLS and City, is a Private schools in the United Kingdom, private day school for Single-sex education, boys in the City of London, England, on the banks of the River Thames next to the Millennium Bridge, ...

from 1841 to 1845, and started work as a clerk in a wine merchant's office. In 1854, Toole married Susan Hale (née Caslake), a widow five years older than he. They had a son, Frank Lawrence, and a daughter, Florence Mabel, but both children died in their 20s.Clipping about the death of Toole's son in 1879

Early career

Toole began his acting career by training as an amateur with the City Histrionic Club, beginning in 1850 and by performing in other amateur theatricals and in comic sketches. He earned good notices, particularly as Jacob Earwig in ''Boots at the Swan'', and soon met

Charles Dickens Charles John Huffam Dickens (; 7 February 1812 – 9 June 1870) was an English novelist, journalist, short story writer and Social criticism, social critic. He created some of literature's best-known fictional characters, and is regarded by ...

, who had heard of him and came to see him act.Obituary, ''

The Times ''The Times'' is a British Newspaper#Daily, daily Newspaper#National, national newspaper based in London. It began in 1785 under the title ''The Daily Universal Register'', adopting its modern name on 1 January 1788. ''The Times'' and its si ...

'', 31 July 1906, p. 5 His role as Simmons in ''The Spitalfields Weaver'' by

Thomas Haynes Bayly Thomas Haynes Bayly (13 October 1797 – 22 April 1839) was an English poet, songwriter, dramatist and writer. Life Bayly was born in Bath on 13 October 1797, the only child of Nathaniel Bayly, an influential citizen of Bath: he was related ...

at the

Haymarket Theatre The Theatre Royal Haymarket (also known as Haymarket Theatre or the Little Theatre) is a West End theatre in Haymarket, London, Haymarket in the City of Westminster which dates back to 1720, making it the third-oldest London playhouse still in ...

, on 22 July 1852 was billed as his "first appearance" on stage. Encouraged by Dickens, he appeared later that year at the Queen's Theatre in

Dublin Dublin is the capital and largest city of Republic of Ireland, Ireland. Situated on Dublin Bay at the mouth of the River Liffey, it is in the Provinces of Ireland, province of Leinster, and is bordered on the south by the Dublin Mountains, pa ...

, under the management of Charles Dillon, and by 1853 became the principal " low comedian" at the

Theatre Royale Theatre or theater is a collaborative form of performing art that uses live performers, usually actors to present experiences of a real or imagined event before a live audience in a specific place, often a Stage (theatre), stage. The performe ...

Edinburgh Edinburgh is the capital city of Scotland and one of its 32 Council areas of Scotland, council areas. The city is located in southeast Scotland and is bounded to the north by the Firth of Forth and to the south by the Pentland Hills. Edinburgh ...

. His older brother, Francis, acted as his manager throughout his early career. During the next two years, he performed widely in Ireland and Scotland, gaining a reputation for sunny extemporaneous comedy, humorous expressions and a uniquely comic voice, freedom with his texts, and an engaging rapport with audiences. In 1854, Toole made his first professional appearance in London at 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 ...

, acting as

Samuel Pepys Samuel Pepys ( ; 23 February 1633 – 26 May 1703) was an English writer and Tories (British political party), Tory politician. He served as an official in the Navy Board and Member of Parliament (England), Member of Parliament, but is most r ...

in ''The King's Rival'', by

Tom Taylor Tom Taylor (19 October 1817 – 12 July 1880) was an English dramatist, critic, biographer, public servant, and editor of Punch (magazine), ''Punch'' magazine. Taylor had a brief academic career, holding the professorship of English literatu ...

and

Charles Reade Charles Reade (8 June 1814 – 11 April 1884) was a British novelist and dramatist, best known for the 1861 historical novel '' The Cloister and the Hearth''. Life Charles Reade was born at Ipsden, Oxfordshire, to John Reade and Anne Marie Sco ...

, and Weazel in ''My Friend the Major'' by

Charles Selby Charles Selby (c. 1802 – 1863) was a 19th-century English actor and playwright, and translator of many French plays (often without attribution, not uncommon at the time). Among his works was ''The Marble Heart'' (1854), a translation of Théo ...

. There he also played in ''Boots at the Swan'' and ''Honours before Titles''.Waddy, Frederick. ''Cartoon Portraits and Biographical Sketches of Men of the Day'', pp. 22–24, Tinsley Brothers: London (1873), accessed 2 January 2011 He returned to the provinces, but by 1856 was engaged in London at the Lyceum Theatre, including as Hilarion Fanfaronade in ''Belphegor'', in which

Marie Wilton Marie Effie Wilton, Lady Bancroft (1836–1921) was an English actress and Actor-manager, theatre manager. She appeared onstage as Marie Wilton until after her marriage in December 1867 to Squire Bancroft, when she adopted his last name. Bancro ...

made her first London appearance.''Toole's Theatre-Polygraphic Hall-Charing Cross Theatre-The Folly'' (Arthur Lloyd)
accessed 11 October 2007 Thereafter, he frequently performed with Wilton. In 1857, having had a great success in London as Paul Pry in John Poole's farce of that name, he made his first of many successful provincial summer tours and often repeated the character thereafter. During this first tour, he met and acted together with

Henry Irving Sir Henry Irving (6 February 1838 – 13 October 1905), christened John Henry Brodribb, sometimes known as J. H. Irving, was an English stage actor in the Victorian era, known as an actor-manager because he took complete responsibility ( ...

, and the two remained close friends over their long careers. In 1858, he scored a notable hit creating the role of Tom Cranky in

John Hollingshead John Hollingshead (9 September 1827 – 9 October 1904) was an English theatrical impresario, journalist and writer during the latter half of the 19th century. After a journalism career, Hollingshead managed the Alhambra Theatre and was later th ...

's farce ''The Birthplace of Podgers.''

Peak years

In 1858, at the suggestion of Dickens, Toole joined

Benjamin Webster Ben Webster Benjamin Francis Webster (March 27, 1909 – September 20, 1973) was an American jazz tenor Saxophone, saxophonist. He performed in the United States and Europe and made many recordings with Duke Ellington, Billie Holiday, John ...

's company at the

Adelphi Theatre The Adelphi Theatre is a West End theatre, located on the Strand in the City of Westminster, central London. The present building is the fourth on the site. The theatre has specialised in comedy and musical theatre, and today it is a receiv ...

and established his popularity as a farceur, creating, among other parts, Joe Spriggins in ''Ici on parle français'' by T. H. Williams, Augustus de Rosherville in '' The Willow Copse'' by Boucicault, in ''Birthplace of Podgers'', Tom Dibbles in ''Good for Nothing'' by J. B. Buckstone, and in ''Bengal Tiger''. He remained at the Adelphi as principal low comedian for nine years, frequently partnering with Paul Bedford, whose sedate comic style complemented his own contrasting energetic style. His most successful roles there included Bob Cratchit in ''

A Christmas Carol; or, Past, Present, and Future ''A Christmas Carol; or, Past, Present, and Future'' is a play in three acts (or ‘Staves’) by Edward Stirling (playwright), Edward Stirling which opened at the Adelphi Theatre in London on 5 February 1844.Asmodeus Asmodeus (; , ''Asmodaios'') or Ashmedai (; ; ; see below for other variations) is a king of demons in the legends of Solomon and the constructing of Solomon's Temple."Asmodeus" in '' The New Encyclopædia Britannica''. Chicago: Encyclopædia B ...

'' in 1859, Peter Familias in ''The Census'' by William Brough (among many pieces by Brough), Milwood in ''George de Barnwell'' by H. J. Byron (1862), Caleb Plummer in ''Dot'' (1862), by

Dion Boucicault Dionysius Lardner "Dion" Boucicault (né Boursiquot; 26 December 1820 – 18 September 1890) was an Irish actor and playwright famed for his melodramas. By the later part of the 19th century, Boucicault had become known on both sides of the ...

, Pitcher in ''The Area Belle'' (1864), and Prudent in ''The Fast Family'' by B. Webster, Jr. His other great successes there were as Mr. Tetterby in an adaptation of Dickens' '' The Haunted Man'' and of a frightened servant in Boucicault's ''The Phantom''. He played a season in 1867 with the impressive new company at Queen's Theatre that included Irving,

Henrietta Hodson Henrietta Ellen Hodson (26 March 1841 – 30 October 1910) was an English actress and theatre manager best known for her portrayal of comedy roles in the Victorian era. She had a long affair with the journalist-turned-politician Henry Labouc ...

Lionel Brough Lionel "Lal" Brough (10 March 1836 – 8 November 1909) was a British actor and comedian. After beginning a journalistic career and performing as an amateur, he became a professional actor, performing mostly in Liverpool during the mid-1860s. H ...

and Charles Wyndham, where he appeared in such works a

H. J. Byron Henry James Byron (8 January 1835 – 11 April 1884) was a prolific English dramatist, as well as an editor, journalist, director, theatre manager, novelist and actor. After an abortive start at a medical career, Byron struggled as a provincia ...

's ''Dearer Than Life'', as Michael Garner, and

W. S. Gilbert Sir William Schwenck Gilbert (18 November 1836 – 29 May 1911) was an English dramatist, librettist, poet and illustrator best known for his collaboration with composer Arthur Sullivan, which produced fourteen comic operas. The most fam ...

's ''

La Vivandière LA most frequently refers to Los Angeles, the second most populous city in the United States of America. La, LA, or L.A. may also refer to: Arts and entertainment Music * La (musical note), or A, the sixth note *"L.A.", a song by Elliott Smi ...

'', as Sergeant Sulpizio. Frederick Waddy wrote of Toole in 1873 that as Harry Coke in ''Off the Line'', "Mr. Toole makes one of those perfect pictures of everyday life of the lower class in which he has so often proved himself a consummate artist. But in low comedy and broad farce it would be difficult to find an actor of equal merit.... As Paul Pry he keeps his audience in a roar whenever he is on the stage". JL Toole as The Don

Toole was then engaged in 1868 at the Gaiety Theatre by Hollingshead, appearing in many pieces there including ''

Thespis Thespis (; ; fl. 6th century BC) was an Ancient Greece, Ancient Greek poet. He was born in the ancient city of Icarius (present-day Dionysos, Greece). According to certain Ancient Greece, Ancient Greek sources and especially Aristotle, he was t ...

'' (1871), the first

Gilbert and Sullivan Gilbert and Sullivan refers to the Victorian-era theatrical partnership of the dramatist W. S. Gilbert (1836–1911) and the composer Arthur Sullivan (1842–1900) and to the works they jointly created. The two men collaborated on fourteen com ...

collaboration, and as John Lockwood, in a drama called ''Wait and Hope''. In 1872–74, among other successes, he portrayed Tom Larkin in ''Good News'' by H. J. Byron, the Irishman Brulgruddery in ''

John Bull John Bull is a national personification of England, especially in political cartoons and similar graphic works. He is usually depicted as a stout, middle-aged, country-dwelling, jolly and matter-of-fact man. He originated in satirical works of ...

'' by George Colman the Younger; Bob Acres in ''

The Rivals ''The Rivals'' is a comedy of manners by Richard Brinsley Sheridan in five acts which was first performed at Covent Garden Theatre on 17 January 1775. The story has been updated frequently, including a 1935 musical and a 1958 List of Maverick ...

'' by

Richard Brinsley Sheridan Richard Brinsley Butler Sheridan (30 October 17517 July 1816) was an Anglo-Irish playwright, writer and Whig politician who sat in the British House of Commons from 1780 to 1812, representing the constituencies of Stafford, Westminster and I ...

, together with

Charles James Mathews Charles James Mathews (26 December 1803 – 24 June 1878) was a British actor. He was one of the few British actors to be successful in French-speaking roles in France. A son of the actor Charles Mathews, he achieved a greater reputation th ...

and

Samuel Phelps Samuel Phelps (13 February 1804 – 6 November 1878) was an English actor-manager. He is known for reviving the fortunes of the neglected Sadler's Wells Theatre and for his productions of Shakespeare's plays which were presented with attenti ...

; the title role in a

Robert Reece Robert Reece (2 May 1838 – 8 July 1891) was a British comic playwright and librettist active in the Victorian era. He wrote many successful musical burlesques, comic operas, farces and adaptations from the French, including the English-lang ...

burlesque called ''Don Giovanni in Venice''; another title role in ''Guy Fawkes'' by H. J. Byron, and created the role of the barrister Hammond Coote in ''Wig and Gown'' by

James Albery James Albery (4 May 1838 – 15 August 1889) was an English dramatist. Life and career Albery was born in London. On leaving school he entered an architect's office and started to write plays. His farce ''A Pretty Piece of Chiselling'' wa ...

. Toole's fame was at its height in 1874, when he went on tour to America, but he failed to reproduce there the success he had found in England. He remained based mostly at the Gaiety until the end of 1877, when he moved to the

Globe Theatre The Globe Theatre was a Theater (structure), theatre in London associated with William Shakespeare. It was built in 1599 at Southwark, close to the south bank of the Thames, by Shakespeare's playing company, the Lord Chamberlain's Men. It was ...

under his own management for two years. In 1878, Toole created the role of Charles Liquorpond in ''A Fool and his Money'' by

. Liquorpond was a retired footman unexpectedly overtaken by wealth, and Toole's affectedly superior pronunciation, particularly of his own name, was a tremendous success. In his prime, Toole achieved wide popularity as a comic actor, being noted for his comic delivery of words, but he did not confine himself exclusively to comedy. He also excelled in domestic melodramas (adaptations by

and others of

and similar writers), playing "tender-hearted victims of fate", where he was famously able to combine humour and pathos. ''

'' said of his performance in ''Dearer than Life'' by

Henry James Byron Henry James Byron (8 January 1835 – 11 April 1884) was a prolific English dramatist, as well as an editor, journalist, director, theatre manager, novelist and actor. After an abortive start at a medical career, Byron struggled as a provincia ...

Later years

In 1879, Toole realised a lifelong ambition by taking over the management of the Folly Theatre in London. He renovated the building and renamed it

Toole's Theatre Toole's Theatre was a 19th-century West End theatre, West End building in William IV Street, near Charing Cross, in the City of Westminster. A succession of auditoria had occupied the site since 1832, serving a variety of functions, including ...

in 1881, becoming the first actor to have a

named after him. He was often away in the British provinces, but he produced a number of plays in London: *H. J. Byron's ''A Fool and His Money'' (1879) *

Arthur Wing Pinero Sir Arthur Wing Pinero (24 May 1855 – 23 November 1934) was an English playwright and, early in his career, actor. Pinero was drawn to the theatre from an early age, and became a professional actor at the age of 19. He gained experience as a ...

's ''Hester's Mystery'' (1880) *Byron's ''Upper Crust'' (1880) and ''Auntie'' (1882) *

A. W. Pinero Sir Arthur Wing Pinero (24 May 1855 – 23 November 1934) was an English playwright and, early in his career, actor. Pinero was drawn to the theatre from an early age, and became a professional actor at the age of 19. He gained experience as a ...

's ''Girls and Boys: a Nursery Tale'' (1882) starring Toole as Solomon Prothero * F. C. Burnand's ''Stage Dora; or, Who Killed Cock Robin'' (1883), a burlesque of Sardou's ''Fédora'', starring Toole *Burnand's ''Paw Claudian'' (1884), a burlesque of the 1883 costume (Byzantine) drama 'Claudian' by Henry Herman and W. G. Wills *Pinero's ''Girls and Boys'' (1885) *''Mr. Guffin's Elopement'' and ''The Great Tay-Kin'', both with words by Arthur Law and music by

George Grossmith George Grossmith (9 December 1847 – 1 March 1912) was an English comedian, writer, composer, actor, and singer. His performing career spanned more than four decades. As a writer and composer, he created 18 comic operas, nearly 100 musical ...

, starring Toole (1885) *A revival of ''

Billee Taylor ''Billee Taylor, or The Reward of Virtue'' is "a nautical comedy opera" composed by Edward Solomon, with a libretto by Henry Pottinger Stephens. The piece was first produced at the Imperial Theatre, London, Imperial Theatre in London on 30 Oct ...

'' (1886) *''The Butler'', by

Herman Charles Merivale Herman Charles Merivale MA (27 January 1839 – 17 August 1906) was an English dramatist and poet, son of Herman Merivale. He also used the punning pseudonym Felix Dale. Life Herman Charles Merivale was born in London on 27 January 1839, the ...

, starring Toole (1886) *''Pepita'', an operetta by

Charles Lecocq Alexandre Charles Lecocq (; 3 June 183224 October 1918) was a French composer, known for his opérettes and opéra comique, opéras comiques. He became the most prominent successor to Jacques Offenbach in this sphere, and enjoyed considerable su ...

(1888) *''The Don'', by Merivale, starring Toole (1888).Adams, p. 410 *''The Bungalow'', by Fred Horner (1890)Notices and posters for Toole's Theatre pieces
/ref> *

J. M. Barrie Sir James Matthew Barrie, 1st Baronet, (; 9 May 1860 19 June 1937) was a Scottish novelist and playwright, best remembered as the creator of Peter Pan. He was born and educated in Scotland and then moved to London, where he wrote several succe ...

's ''Ibsen's Ghost, or, Toole up to Date'', a one-act satire on London productions of Ibsen, including ''

Hedda Gabler ''Hedda Gabler'' () is a play written by Norwegian playwright Henrik Ibsen. The world premiere was staged on 31 January 1891 at the Residenztheater in Munich. Ibsen himself was in attendance, although he remained back-stage.Meyer, Michael Lever ...

'', starring

Irene Vanbrugh Dame Irene Boucicault (2 December 1872 – 30 November 1949), Barnes, known professionally as Irene Vanbrugh () was an English actress. The daughter of a clergyman, Vanbrugh followed her elder sister Violet Vanbrugh, Violet into the theatrica ...

and Toole (1891) *Barrie's ''Walker, London'', a highly successful farce, directed by Toole (1892)Peter Pan exhibition site
By the 1880s Toole suffered frequently from

gout Gout ( ) is a form of inflammatory arthritis characterized by recurrent attacks of pain in a red, tender, hot, and Joint effusion, swollen joint, caused by the deposition of needle-like crystals of uric acid known as monosodium urate crysta ...

, which made it difficult for him to walk and affected his ability to perform. His health declined further following a string of family tragedies that left him disconsolate: his son died in 1879 after a football injury, his daughter in 1888 of typhoid fever, and his wife three months later in 1889. By this time, his acting had become unfashionable: he began to be seen as the last of the line of old-fashioned low comic actors who had been popular earlier in the century, including Buckstone,

John Liston John Liston (c. 1776 – 22 March 1846), English comedian, was born in London. He made his public debut on the stage at Weymouth as Lord Duberley in '' The Heir at Law''. After several dismal failures in tragic parts, some of them in su ...

and

Edward Richard Wright Edward Richard Wright (c. 1813–21 December 1859) was an English comedian and actor. Life He was one of at least five children born to Elizabeth and Francis Wright, whose profession was listed as "Gent", of Sloane Square in London. He was init ...

. Nevertheless, he toured Australia and New Zealand in 1890. He published his reminiscences in 1888, and his stage appearances gradually became fewer. After an 1893 illness during ''Thoroughbred'' by Ralph Lumley, he retired from the London stage, although he made occasional appearances in the provinces until about 1896. His theatre was demolished in 1895 for an extension of

Charing Cross Hospital Charing Cross Hospital is district general hospital and teaching hospital located in Hammersmith in the London Borough of Hammersmith and Fulham. The present hospital was opened in 1973, although it was originally established in 1818, approxim ...

, and he dissolved his theatre company after an 1896 tour. The critic

Clement Scott Clement William Scott (6 October 1841 – 25 June 1904) was an influential English theatre critic for ''The Daily Telegraph'' and other journals, and a playwright, lyricist, translator and travel writer, in the final decades of the 19th century ...

called Toole "one of the kindest and most genial men who ever drew breath. ... No one acted with more spirit or enjoyed so thoroughly the mere pleasure of acting." His genial and sympathetic nature was conspicuous off the stage as well as on it, and he was known as a great practical joker. Ultimately he retired to

Brighton Brighton ( ) is a seaside resort in the city status in the United Kingdom, city of Brighton and Hove, East Sussex, England, south of London. Archaeological evidence of settlement in the area dates back to the Bronze Age Britain, Bronze Age, R ...

, where, after a long struggle with

Bright's disease Bright's disease is a historical classification of kidney diseases that are described in modern medicine as acute or chronic nephritis. It was characterized by swelling and the presence of albumin in the urine. It was frequently accompanied ...

and a degenerative spinal illness, he died in 1906 at the age of 76. He is buried at

Kensal Green Cemetery Kensal Green Cemetery is a cemetery in the Kensal Green area of North Kensington in the Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea and the London Borough of Hammersmith and Fulham in London, England. Inspired by Père Lachaise Cemetery in P ...

in London, next to his wife and children. Toole was a good businessman and left a considerable fortune of over £81,000, out of which he made a number of bequests to charity, to needy actors and to his friends.

Notes

References

* Adams, William Davenport
''A Dictionary of the Drama''
(1904) Chatto & Windus, London

External links

A blog focusing on the life of J.L. ToolePhotos and other images of Toole
* {{DEFAULTSORT:Toole, John Lawrence 1830 births 1906 deaths English male stage actors People educated at the City of London School Burials at Kensal Green Cemetery Male actors from London 19th-century English male actors Actor-managers 19th-century English theatre managers