Waller, Lewis

Waller, Lewis [ William Waller Lewis] (1860–1915), English actor-manager, born in Spain of English parents, who made his first appearance as a professional at Toole's Theatre in 1883. A robust and dynamic actor, with a magnificent voice, he was at his best in costume parts and particularly in Shakespeare. His Brutus in Julius Caesar, Faulconbridge in King John, and above all his Henry V were memorable. In modern-dress comedy, such as Wilde's An Ideal Husband with which he opened his management at the Haymarket in 1895, he did not appear to such advantage. He was much admired as D'Artagnan in one of the many dramatizations of the elder Dumas's The Three Musketeers (1898) and in the title-role of Monsieur Beaucaire (1902), based by Booth Tarkington on his own novel. The latter role was perhaps the supreme example of Waller's talent. He visited the USA for the first time in 1911, where he was successful in the New York production of The Garden of Allah, adapted by Robert Hichens and Mary Anderson from the former's book. He was one of the outstanding romantic actors of his day, one of the first so-called ‘matinée idols’, but entirely without conceit, and the hysteria of his more fervid supporters caused him much embarrassment. He married an actress, Florence West (1862–1912), sister-in-law of the critic Clement Scott, who appeared with her husband in many of his outstanding successes, notably as Miladi in The Three Musketeers.