Background
He was born in London, and appeared as a youthful amateur at Drury Lane as James in The Miller"s Maid.
He was born in London, and appeared as a youthful amateur at Drury Lane as James in The Miller"s Maid.
He appeared at Nottingham in 1836, and acted in London, on 26 September of that year, in the Haunted Tower. Afterward, he acted in various English cities, especially in Manchester. His first appearance in America was in August, 1850, as Sir Peter Teazle at the old Broadway Theatre, New New York
Later he supported many well-known actors in the metropolis and elsewhere, among them Edwin Forrest, Gustavus V. Brooke, Julia Dean, Lola Montez, and Fanny Davenport.
After leaving the old Broadway Theatre in 1855, he made a tour through the country. He afterward took part in the Shakespearean revivals at Winter Garden Theatre, and, in August 1867, appeared as Eccles, in Caste, at the new Broadway Theatre near Broome Street.
He was at Daly"s Fifth Avenue Theatre from 1869 until 1877, then traveled with Mission Fanny Davenport"s company, and in 1879 was the original Dick Deadeye, in HMS Pinafore, at the Standard Theatre. Davidge played over one thousand parts during his career.
In Shakespeare"s comedies he was successful as Caliban, Touchstone, Dogberry, Nick Bottom, and Old Gobbo.
He died at Cheyenne, Wyoming, August 7, 1888. He made his first appearance in the French Theatre, New York, in the burlesque of The Lady of the Lions. During his career he played with William H. Crane, Kate Claxton, and later for several seasons with Roland Reed.
He died in Chicago.
He was a member of F. B. Conway"s “star combination,” and in 1863 was one of Mistress John Wood"s company at the Olympic Theatre, where he remained two seasons. In 1885, he became a member of the Madison Square Theatre company.
