Arthur McKee Rankin (1841–1914) was a Canadian born American stage actor and manager. He was the son of a member of the Canadian Parliament. After a dispute with his father he left home to become an actor. He made his stage debut in Rochester, New York in 1861 using the name George Henley. In 1863 he was seen at Wood's Theatre in Cincinnati in the play ''The Stranger'' as The Count. During this time he was engaged by
Mrs. John Drew at her Arch Street Theatre in Philadelphia. Rankin, a Canadian, had no role or participation in the American Civil War. In 1866 he appeared at the Olympic Theatre in London run by
Mrs. John Wood. Rankin increasingly became popular in the melodramas of the period and in 1867 was in a play called ''The Hunchback''. In 1870 he appeared with
Lydia Thompson
Lydia Thompson (born Eliza Thompson; 19 February 1838 – 17 November 1908), was an English dancer, comedian, actor and theatrical producer.
From 1852, as a teenager, she danced and performed in pantomimes, in the UK and then in Europe and so ...
in ''Mosquito'' and was a leading man from 1873 to 1875 at the famous
Union Square Theatre. Having married Elizabeth Blanchard better known as
Kitty they acted together in the 1870s appearing in the smash hit play ''
The Two Orphans'' in 1874. He collaborated with playwright
Frederick G. Maeder on several plays, among them ''The Runaway Wife'' and ''The Canuck''.
Family
Rankin married actress
Kitty Blanchard in 1869 and had two daughters,
Gladys and
Phyllis. Through an extra marital affair with Mabel Bert he fathered
Doris Rankin in 1887. His daughters' various marriages aligned him with other theatrical families. Gladys married Sidney Drew circa 1891. Phyllis was later the wife of
Harry Davenport whose father and sister were
E. L. Davenport and the famous
Fanny Davenport. Doris Rankin married
Lionel Barrymore
Lionel Barrymore (born Lionel Herbert Blyth; April 28, 1878 – November 15, 1954) was an American actor of stage, screen and radio as well as a film director. He won an Academy Award for Best Actor for his performance in '' A Free Soul'' (1931) ...
in 1904. Both Sidney Drew and Lionel Barrymore descended from the famous
Louisa Lane Drew
Louisa Lane Drew (January 10, 1820 – August 31, 1897) was an English-born British American actress and theatre owner-manager, and an ancestor of the prominent Barrymore-Drew acting family. Professionally, she was often billed and known a ...
of Philadelphia.
Death
Rankin's wife Kitty Blanchard died in a hotel in 1911. Its not clear whether they were divorced or separated. Rankin outlived his eldest daughter, Gladys, by 3 months dying in San Francisco on April 17, 1914.
Notable descendant
Rankin's great-grandson was
Arthur Rankin Jr. whose partnership with Jules Bass brought several Christmas holiday television classics from the
Rankin-Bass
Rankin/Bass Animated Entertainment (founded and formerly known as Videocraft International, Ltd. and Rankin/Bass Productions, Inc.) was an American production company located in New York City. It was known for its seasonal television specials, ...
company.
References
External links
McKee Rankin..Internet Broadway DatabaseInternet Movie DatabaseMcKee Rankin
New York Public Library)
{{DEFAULTSORT:Rankin, McKee
1841 births
1914 deaths
Burials at Kensico Cemetery
Emigrants from pre-Confederation Ontario to the United States
American male actors