Kemble, Charles

Kemble, Charles (1775–1854), actor. A member of a distinguished theatrical family in England, he paid only one two‐year visit to America and that relatively late in his career. He made his debut in 1832 at the Park Theatre as Hamlet and was warmly greeted, but was even more eagerly applauded for such later roles as Charles Surface and Benedick. Indeed, Wemyss afterward looked back on him as “the best representative of high comedy belonging to the British stage.” He was a rather boyishly handsome, curly‐headed man, whose career in England had been overshadowed by those of his brother, John Philip, and sister, Mrs. Siddons, and whose American appearances were often distracted by adulation accorded his beautiful daughter, Fanny [Frances Anne] KEMBLE (1809–93). The great beauty came to America with her father and made her debut at the Park Theatre as Bianca in Fazio. She continued by demonstrating her skill as Juliet, Portia, Belvidera, and as other classic heroines of the period's standard repertory. One of her most famous roles was Julia in The Hunchback, a part she had created in England. She retired from the stage in 1834 following her marriage to Pierce Butler, later U. S. Senator from South Carolina. Out of this marriage came her diary of Southern life. After her divorce some years later she largely confined herself to offering formal readings, before returning permanently to England in 1868. Perhaps because she acted here so briefly and retired at the height of her powers, she was remembered with a special affection. T. Allston Brown recalled, “She was full of the true, heavenly fire, with every other requisite of physical and intellectual endowment, but her representations were mere dash sketches, though with here and there a touch of the most masterly and overwhelming power.” While she set a high standard for actresses, Charles Kemble was considered a model of an English gentleman and set an example for future American players. Biographies: Charles Kemble, Man of the Theatre, Jane Williamson, 1970; Fanny Kemble, J. H. Furnas, 1982.