Background
Huntley was born into a theatrical family in Fermoy, County Cork. He made his stage debut at the age of six as Pike Rich in Under the Gaslight, and toured for some years with the theatrical troupe of his father, Frank Huntley.
- Photos
- Works
- Photos
- Works
George Patrick Huntley
Edit ProfileCareer
Moving to England, Huntley played in melodramas in London and on tour. From 1882 to 1885, he played at the Adelphi Theatre, then at the Theatre Royal, Drury Lane in both drama and comedy. He joined the company of William and Madge Kendal, and went with them to New York in 1891.
He remained with the Kendals for four years, in London and on three further United States visits.
In 1901 he had his first major success in the West End, playing a "knut" role, Lord Plantagenet, in the Edwardian musical comedy Kitty Grey. In the view of The Times, other roles for which he was particularly celebrated were Lord Cheyne in Three Little Maids (1902), Sir Ormesby Street-Leger in The School Girl (1903), and Mr Hook in Mission Hook of Holland (1908).
In 1905 he played the Doctor in Passion, Poison, and Petrifaction. Other roles in musicals included Sir Titus in The Circus Girl (1897), A Runaway Girl (1899), Trooper Smith in Lady Madcap (1904), the title characters in Mr.
Popple of Ippleton (1905) and The Honorary"ble Philosophy (1908), Victor in My Mimosa Maid (1908), and Lord Playne in Betty (1915).
He was almost as well known in the United States as in the United Kingdom, making regular Broadway appearances before and after the First World War, including the New York runs of some of his musicals, as well as Eccles in the play Caste (1910), Hitchy-Koo of 1920, Sir George in The Second Mistress Tanqueray (1924) and Sir Francis in a 1926 adaptation of Gentlemen Prefer Blondes. Huntley died in London.
