Background
Wilton Lackaye was born in Loudoun County, Virginia, the son of James and Margaret (Bagnam) Lackey. He was named William Andrew; the name by which he is remembered he adopted for the stage.
Wilton Lackaye was born in Loudoun County, Virginia, the son of James and Margaret (Bagnam) Lackey. He was named William Andrew; the name by which he is remembered he adopted for the stage.
He was educated at Ottawa, Ont. , and at Georgetown University in the District of Columbia. Later he studied law at Washington.
After six years of study for the priesthood Lackaye was on his way to Rome to complete his preparation when he stayed over night in New York and went to the Madison Square Theatre to see Esmeralda. He decided at once that his destiny was the stage rather than the church.
Returning to Washington he joined an amateur dramatic society. Lawrence Barrett saw him act and gave him a part in his company. His first professional appearance was at the Star Theatre, New York, playing Lucentio in Francesca da Rimini on August 27, 1883.
The following summer he gained experience with a stock company in Dayton, Ohio. In 1884 he supported Carrie Swain, then appeared in May Blossom, and subsequently played with Fanny Davenport in many roles. When She was presented at Niblo's Garden, New York, in November 1887, Lackaye was well received as Leo Vincey. Thenceforth he was constantly in demand and changed from one management to another, appearing in the new and standard plays of the period. He was always engaged, and the list of his roles was extensive.
Some of the best-known plays in which he appeared were Diplomacy, Aristocracy, The Clemenceau Case, The Two Orphans, East Lynne, Uncle Tom's Cabin, The Silver King, Paul Kauvar, Shenandoah, Quo Vadis, and Children of the Ghetto. He was especially good as Curtis Jadwin in The Pit. He made his own dramatization of Les Miserables, called Law and the Man, in which he played Jean Valjean.
Besides all these he played many Shakespearean parts. The play Trilby was first performed at the Park Theatre in Boston, March 11, 1895, and became the rage of the hour. As the unkempt hypnotist of Du Maurier he overshadowed all other interest in the play. His make-up was a work of art and his performance brilliant. For two years he continued in the part and subsequently played it at several revivals.
In 1927 he played James Telfer in the "all-star" performances of Trelawney of the Wells. He retired because of ill health in 1927, returned to play in Ladies of the Jury with Minnie Maddern Fiske in 1929, and then definitely retired.
He died of an acute heart attack and was buried at Long Island City. He was a tall, handsome man, with an easy, graceful, and dignified carriage. Although he was an outspoken advocate of decency on the stage, he was opposed to censorship. He was a founder of the Catholic Actors' Guild and instrumental in organizing the Actors' Equity Association.
He was one of the first wits of his day among the players, but his sharp tongue, set opinions, and caustic remarks made him somewhat fearsome to his fellow actors.
Lackaye was married to Alice Evans of the Hoyt Company on September 25, 1896. They had one son, Wilton, Jr. His wife died in 1919 and on March 23, 1928, he married Katherine Alberta Riley, who was his nurse during a protracted illness.
