Charles Kemble Fox was an American actor. He was a well known comedian who performed in the various fantasies including “Humpty Dumpty” that he was mainly identified.
Background
Charles Kemble Fox was born August 15, 1833 a son of George Howe and Emily (Wyatt) Fox, was born in Boston, Massachusetts. He was the younger brother of George W. L. Fox.
When six years of age he played the child in The Carpenter of Rouen at the old Eagle Theatre in his native city. His father was property man at the Tremont Street Theatre and there Charles also acted on occasions. While still a child he traveled with his family through the New England towns, giving performances wherever possible.
Education
After living for a time in Troy, New York, the family moved to Providence, and in that city, from 1846 to 1850, as members of the Howard-Fox Dramatic Company, Charles and his brothers James and George, with their sister Caroline, received their practical stage training.
Career
On September 27, 1852, Charles Fox appeared in the roles of Phineas Fletcher and Gumption Cute in the George Aiken version of Uncle Tom’s Cabir at the Museum in Troy. His mother, Emily Fox, took the part of Ophelia in the same production.
The play was an immediate success and ran for one hundred nights. In a farce which nightly followed the drama, Charles was featured as Peter Paul Pearlbutton. The following season he made his first New York appearance at the National Theatre as Gumption Cute.
Later, on October 28, 1867, he was seen as Snug in the revival of A Midsummer Night’s Dream at Mrs. John Wood’s Olympic (formerly Laura Keene’s) Theatre. At the same house he appeared in Hickory Dickery Dock and in the burlesque of Macbeth, and was also cast as Lawyer Marks in one of the many revivals of Uncle Tom’s Cabin.
For a short period in 1869 he formed a traveling arrangement with Tony Denier and played through the Western states. This enterprise soon proved unsuccessful, however, and in 1870 he returned to the Olympic.
During the season of 1873-74, he toured through New England, the West, and the South with the Fox Pantomime Troupe. Then after traveling with his brother’s company, he played his last engagement at Fox’s Broadway Theatre, May 16, 1874, appearing as Pantaloon in Humpty Dumpty at Home.
It was in this role in the various fantasies concerning “Humpty Dumpty” that he was mainly identified; indeed his miming of the part was the best ever presented before an American audience, but he was a competent actor in any line.
Fox died in New York City from typhoid fever which he contracted while playing in Tennessee.
He and his brother were so strongly attached to each other that at his death his brother George suffered a great blow. He and his brother George were buried at Mount Auburn Cemetery, near Boston.
Achievements
Connections
Charles Kemble Fox was married three times. His first wife was Kate Denin, a well-known actress; his second wife was Mary Hewins, who later wrote for the Dramatic Mirror under the name of the Giddy Gusher; his last wife was Mrs. Dulaney.