Background
Brian, Donald was born on February 17, 1875 in Saint Johns Newfoundland. Son of Denis Francis and Margaret (Silvey) Brian.
Brian, Donald was born on February 17, 1875 in Saint Johns Newfoundland. Son of Denis Francis and Margaret (Silvey) Brian.
Educated at English High School, Boston.
1 daughter, Denise Madeleine. Made his first appearance on the stage as Hardie Grant, in Shannon of the Sixth, 1896. Subsequently played in Three Little Lambs, Florodora, Silver Slipper, Little Johnny Jones, Forty-five Minutes from Broadway, The Merry Widow, The Dollar Princess.
The Marriage Market, 1914.
The Girl from Utah, 1915. Star of Charles Frohman’s The Siren Company, 1913.
Company-star with Julia Sanderson and Joseph Cawthorn, 1916-1917. Starred in Her Regiment 1917-1918.
The Girl Behind the Gun, 1918-1919, with Peggy Wood in Buddies, 1919-1921, and in revival of The Chocolate Soldier, 1921-1922.
With Up She Goes, Barnum Was Right, and Rolling Home—all 1923. Company-star with Alys Delysia in The Courtesan, 1923-1924. Company-star with Vivian Martin in Just Married (tour of Keith vaudeville), 1924-1925.
Company-star with Julia Sanderson in Number, Number, Nanette special company, 1925-1926.
With Castles in the Air, Yes, Yes, Yvette, 1927. Company-star with Edna Leedom, in Breakfast in the Sun, 1927-1928.
Toured in vaudeville and guest star in stock, radio broadcasting and talking pictures, 1928-1929. Starred in Hows Your Health, Candlelight, revival of Merry Widow and Private Lives, 1930-1931, Reunion in Vienna, 1933, Music in the Air, 1934, and Fly Away Home, 1935.
In motion pictures, 1936-1937.
Teacher of light opera, New England Conservatory of Music, 1938. Teacher dramatic School, Great Neck, New York, since 1939. Played in Very Warm for May (New York), 1939.
Mornings at Seven, 1940.
Company-star with Luella Grear in The Vinegar Tree, summer 1942.
Clubs: The Lambs, Players.
Married Florence Meagher Gleason, March 1, 1910. Married second, Virginia OBrien, November 27, 1926.