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Thomas Herbert F. Lewin (28 September 1872 – 8 February 1964), known professionally as Tom Terriss, was a British actor, screenwriter, and film director. After trying various occupations, he became an actor playing a variety of roles, beginning in 1890, in plays,
pantomime Pantomime (; informally panto) is a type of musical comedy stage production designed for family entertainment, generally combining gender-crossing actors and topical humour with a story more or less based on a well-known fairy tale, fable or ...
and
Edwardian musical comedy Edwardian musical comedy is a genre of British musical theatre that thrived from 1892 into the 1920s, extending beyond the reign of King Edward VII in both directions. It began to dominate the English musical stage, and even the American musical ...
. After the
First World War World War I or the First World War (28 July 1914 – 11 November 1918), also known as the Great War, was a World war, global conflict between two coalitions: the Allies of World War I, Allies (or Entente) and the Central Powers. Fighting to ...
, he left the stage and pursued a decade-long film career. He was the brother of the musical comedy star
Ellaline Terriss Mary Ellaline Terriss, Lady Hicks (born Mary Ellaline Lewin, 13 April 1871 – 16 June 1971), known professionally as Ellaline Terriss, was a popular British actress and singer, best known for her performances in Edwardian musical comedies. Sh ...
and son of leading man actor
William Terriss William Terriss (20 February 1847 – 16 December 1897), born as William Charles James Lewin, was an English actor, known for his swashbuckling hero roles, such as Robin Hood, as well as parts in classic dramas and comedies. He was also a nota ...
.


Life and career

Terriss was born in
Barnes, London Barnes () is a district in South West London, England, part of the London Borough of Richmond upon Thames. It takes up the extreme north-east of the borough, and as such is the closest part of the borough to central London. It is centred west ...
, son of the actor
William Terriss William Terriss (20 February 1847 – 16 December 1897), born as William Charles James Lewin, was an English actor, known for his swashbuckling hero roles, such as Robin Hood, as well as parts in classic dramas and comedies. He was also a nota ...
and his wife Isabel (née Lewis). He was educated at
Christ's Hospital Christ's Hospital is a Public school (United Kingdom), public school (English Private schools in the United Kingdom, fee-charging boarding school for pupils aged 11–18) with a royal charter, located to the south of Horsham in West Sussex. T ...
, and being, in his own words, "like his father before him … of roving disposition", he tried several occupations before becoming an actor. He was an apprentice at sea, a sheep farmer in Australia, a miner in Colorado, and a clerk on the London Stock Exchange.Parker, pp. 893–894 His sister,
Ellaline Terriss Mary Ellaline Terriss, Lady Hicks (born Mary Ellaline Lewin, 13 April 1871 – 16 June 1971), known professionally as Ellaline Terriss, was a popular British actress and singer, best known for her performances in Edwardian musical comedies. Sh ...
, became one of the most famous musical theatre stars of the day. He made his first appearance on the professional stage at 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 ...
in March 1890, as Osric in ''
Hamlet ''The Tragedy of Hamlet, Prince of Denmark'', often shortened to ''Hamlet'' (), is a Shakespearean tragedy, tragedy written by William Shakespeare sometime between 1599 and 1601. It is Shakespeare's longest play. Set in Denmark, the play (the ...
'' with F.R. Benson's company. In May of the same year he began a three-year association with the
Theatre Royal, Drury Lane The Theatre Royal, Drury Lane, commonly known as Drury Lane, is a West End theatre and listed building, Grade I listed building in Covent Garden, London, England. The building faces Catherine Street (earlier named Bridges or Brydges Street) an ...
, playing first in ''Paul Kauvar'' and then ''A Million of Money'', ''The Prodigal Daughter'' (1892), and three
pantomime Pantomime (; informally panto) is a type of musical comedy stage production designed for family entertainment, generally combining gender-crossing actors and topical humour with a story more or less based on a well-known fairy tale, fable or ...
s. Over the next decade he played in a range of productions from
musical comedies Musical theatre is a form of theatrical performance that combines songs, spoken dialogue, acting and dance. The story and emotional content of a musical – humor, pathos, love, anger – are communicated through words, music, movement ...
such as ''
The Shop Girl ''The Shop Girl'' was an Edwardian musical comedy in two acts (described by the author as a musical farce) written by Henry J. W. Dam, with lyrics by Dam and Adrian Ross and music by Ivan Caryll, and additional numbers by Lionel Monckton and Ro ...
'' to
melodrama A melodrama is a Drama, dramatic work in which plot, typically sensationalized for a strong emotional appeal, takes precedence over detailed characterization. Melodrama is "an exaggerated version of drama". Melodramas typically concentrate on ...
including ''
The Colleen Bawn ''The Colleen Bawn, or The Brides of Garryowen'' is a melodramatic Play (theatre), play written by Irish people, Irish playwright Dion Boucicault. It was first performed at Laura Keene's Theatre, New York City, New York, on 27 March 1860 with ...
''. In 1902 he went to the US, where he remained for four years, appearing in musical comedies under the managements of
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 ...
and others. He returned to the West End stage in 1906, taking over the role of Mr Beverley in ''
The Beauty of Bath ''The Beauty of Bath'' is a musical comedy with a book by Seymour Hicks and Cosmo Hamilton, lyrics by Charles H. Taylor (lyricist), C. H. Taylor and music by Herbert Haines; additional songs were provided by Jerome Kern (lyrics and music), F. Cli ...
'' in which his sister Ellaline starred in the title role. During 1909 Terriss toured in the US and the UK in ''The Vampire'', and in 1910–11 he made another American tour in ''Scrooge''. During 1913–15 he played in Britain in three
Dickens Charles John Huffam Dickens (; 7 February 1812 – 9 June 1870) was an English novelist, journalist, short story writer and social critic. He created some of literature's best-known fictional characters, and is regarded by many as the great ...
adaptations: ''A Christmas Carol'', ''A Tale of Two Cities'', and ''Nicholas Nickleby''. After that he abandoned the stage for a film career, becoming a director for Vitagraph Pictures.


Filmography

* ''The Mystery of Edwin Drood'' (1914) * ''
The Fettered Woman ''The Fettered Woman'' is a 1917 American silent drama film directed by Tom Terriss and starring Alice Joyce, Webster Campbell, and Donald MacBride.McCaffrey & Jacobs p. 160 Based on the 1914 novel ''Anne's Bridge'' by Robert W. Chambers, it i ...
'' (1917) * '' The Song of the Soul'' (1918) * '' Everybody's Girl'' (1918) * ''
The Woman Between Friends ''The Woman Between Friends'' is a 1918 American silent drama film written and directed by Tom Terriss that was based on the novel ''Between Friends'' by Robert W. Chambers. The film stars Alice Joyce, Marc McDermott, and Robert Walker. It w ...
'' (1918) * ''
The Captain's Captain ''The Captain's Captain'' is a lost 1919 silent film comedy drama directed by Tom Terriss and starring Alice Joyce. It is based on a novel by James A. Cooper. It was produced and released by Vitagraph Company of America. Cast * Alice Joyce – ...
'' (1919) * ''
The Lion and the Mouse The Lion and the Mouse is one of Aesop's Fables, numbered 150 in the Perry Index. There are also Eastern variants of the story, all of which demonstrate mutual dependence regardless of size or status. In the Renaissance the fable was provided wi ...
'' (1919) * ''
The Cambric Mask ''The Cambric Mask'' is a 1919 American silent drama film directed by Tom Terriss and starring Alice Joyce and Maurice Costello. It was produced and distributed by the Vitagraph Company of America. Cast Preservation With no prints of ''The Ca ...
'' (1919) * '' The Third Degree'' (1919) * '' The Spark Divine'' (1919) * '' The Tower of Jewels'' (1919) * '' The Vengeance of Durand'' (1919) * '' Sunnyside'' (1919) (actor, uncredited) * '' The Climbers'' (1919) * ''
Captain Swift ''Captain Swift'' is a 1920 American silent drama film directed by Tom Terriss and Chester Bennett and starring Earle Williams, Florence Dixon and Edward Martindel. It is based on the 1888 play of the same title by C. Haddon Chambers.Goble p. ...
'' (1920) * '' Dead Men Tell No Tales'' (1920)Holliday, Diane and Chris Kretz. ''Oakdale: Images of America'', p. 36, Arcadia Publishing (2010) * ''
The Fortune Hunter ''The Fortune Hunter'' is a drama in three acts by W. S. Gilbert. The piece concerns an heiress who loses her fortune. Her shallow husband sues to annul the marriage, leaving her pregnant and taking up with a wealthy former lover. The piece wa ...
'' (1920) * '' Trumpet Island'' (1920) * '' The Heart of Maryland'' (1921) * '' Boomerang Bill'' (1922) * '' The Challenge'' (1922) * ''
Find the Woman ''Find the Woman'' is a 1922 American silent mystery film directed by Tom Terriss and starring Alma Rubens. It was produced by Cosmopolitan Productions, owned by William Randolph Hearst, and distributed by Paramount Pictures. The film is based ...
'' (1922) * '' The Harbour Lights'' (1923) * '' Fires of Fate'' (1923) * '' The Bandolero'' (1924) * ''
The Desert Sheik ''The Desert Sheik'' is a 1924 American silent film, silent drama film directed by Tom Terriss and starring Wanda Hawley, Nigel Barrie and Pedro de Cordoba.Munden p.180 British star Stewart Rome also appears in a supporting role. The story is ins ...
'' (1924) * '' His Buddy's Wife'' (1925) * '' The Romance of a Million Dollars'' (1926) * ''
Temptations of a Shop Girl ''Temptations of a Shop Girl'' is a lost 1927 silent crime drama directed by Tom Terriss, with Betty Compson and Pauline Garon leading the cast. B-movie studio Chadwick Pictures was the production company. Cast *Betty Compson – Ruth Harringt ...
'' (1927) * '' The Girl from Rio'' (1927) * ''
Beyond London Lights ''Beyond London Lights'' is a lost 1928 American silent drama film directed by Tom Terriss and starring Adrienne Dore, Lee Shumway, and Bill Elliott. It is based on John Joy Bell's 1917 novel '' Kitty Carstairs'', and is sometimes referred to b ...
'' (1928) * '' Clothes Make the Woman'' (1928) * '' The Naughty Duchess'' (1928) * '' A Princess of Destiny'' (1929) * ''
Circumstantial Evidence Circumstantial evidence is evidence that relies on an inference to connect it to a conclusion of fact, such as a fingerprint at the scene of a crime. By contrast, direct evidence supports the truth of an assertion directly, i.e., without need ...
'' (1935)


Notes


References

*


External links

*
1923 Interview by Louella Parsons
{{DEFAULTSORT:Terriss, Tom 1872 births 1964 deaths British film directors British male film actors British male screenwriters Male actors from London 20th-century British male actors 20th-century British screenwriters