Background
John Liston was born in London, England, United Kingdom in 1776.
John Liston was born in London, England, United Kingdom in 1776.
John made his public dlbut on the stage at Weymouth as Lord Duberley in The Heir-at-law. After several dismal failures in tragic parts, some of them in support of Mrs Siddons, he discovered accidentally that his forte was comedy, especially in the personation of old men and country boys, in which he displayed a fund of drollery and broad humour.
An introduction to Charles Kemble led to his appearance at the Hay- market on the 10th of June 1805 as Sheepface in the Village Lawyer, and his association with this theatre continued with few interruptions until 1830.
Paul Fry, the most famous of all his impersonations, was first presented on the 13th of September 1825, and soon became, thanks to his creative genius, a real personage. Liston remained on the stage till 1837; during his last years his mind failed.
John Liston achieved his greatest successes in farce, particularly as Paul Pry, but was also well known for several other rôles which were also seen in drawings, painting, engravings and figurines. An expert dancer, he became the highest-paid comedian on the stage, earning between sixty and a hundred pounds a week at the Olympic Theatre, a huge salary for his day.
John Liston had married in 1807 Miss Tyrer, a singer and actress.
