Irving, Sir Henry

Irving, Sir Henry, 1838–1905, English actor and manager, originally named John Henry Brodribb. He made his debut in 1856 and achieved fame in 1871 with his portrayal of Mathias in Leopold Lewis's The Bells, a role he often repeated. Irving managed the Lyceum Theatre, London, from 1878 to 1903, and with Ellen Terry as his leading lady, dominated the English stage. He was a champion of the star system; his productions were artistic spectacles with emphasis on scenic detail. As an actor he was most successful in the “realistic” melodramas of his day and in Shakespeare. To him acting was movement; his realistic approach to creating a character led to the noted controversy with Coquelin. His company toured the United States where he became quite well known. Irving was knighted in 1895, the first actor to be so honored, and was buried in Westminster Abbey.

The Columbia Electronic Encyclopedia, 6th ed. Copyright © 2007, Columbia University Press. All rights reserved.

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