Fritz Williams
Fritz Williams | |
---|---|
![]() Fritz Williams c. 1901 | |
Shepherd of The Lambs | |
In office 1928–1930 | |
Preceded by | Thomas A. Wise |
Succeeded by | Frank Crumit |
Personal details | |
Born | Boston, Massachusetts | August 23, 1865
Died | April 1, 1930 Manhattan, New York City | (aged 64)
Resting place | Woodlawn Cemetery, The Bronx |
Spouse | Katherine Florence |
Parent |
|
Occupation | actor, comedian |
Frederick (Fritz) Williams, Jr. (August 23, 1865 – April 1, 1930) was an American actor and Shepherd (president) of The Lambs from 1928 to 1930.[1]
He made his stage debut when he was six months old. William Warren carried him onstage at the Boston Museum in Seeing Warren. Williams made his professional debut in 1879 in Gilbert and Sullivan's musical H.M.S. Pinafore.[2] His New York debut was at Wallack's Theatre in 1884 in A Scrap of Paper.[3]
He started his regular acting career at the old Lyceum Theatre on Park Avenue South with Helen Dauvray in One of Our Girls in a small dramatic part. This caught the eye of fellow Lambs member Dion Boucicault, who went on to engage Williams for the next three years.[2]
Williams worked steadily in New York playhouses from 1884 to 1930.
Williams died on April 1, 1930, in The Lambs clubhouse in Manhattan, New York.[3] He and his wife, Katherine Florence, are interred in the Lakeside Section of Woodlawn Cemetery, The Bronx.
Selected stage performances
[edit]- An American Duchess (1893)
- On and Off (1898)
- Fiddle-dee-dee (1900–1901)
- Hoity Toity (1901–1902)
- Before and After (1905–1906)
- The Summer Widowers (1910)
- The King (1917–1918)
- Too Many Husbands (1919–1920)
- Rain (1924)
- Spread Eagle (1927)
- Before You're 25 (1929)
- Berkeley Square (1929–1930)
References
[edit]- ^ Hardee 2010.
- ^ a b Austin 1896.
- ^ a b "Fritz Williams Dies at Lambs Club. Veteran Actor Succumbs to Heart Disease After Attack of Acute Indigestion. WAS ARRANGING GAMBOL as Shepherd of Club. He Directed Plans for Show. Began Stage Career at 6 Months. Had Role in Berkeley Square. Played Here First in 1884". New York Times. April 2, 1930. Retrieved February 12, 2025.
Sources
[edit]Books
- Hardee, Lewis J. Jr. (2010) [1st pub. 2006]. The Lambs Theatre Club (softcover) (2nd ed.). Jefferson, North Carolina: McFarland Publishing. ISBN 978-0-7864-6095-3 – via archive.org.
- Austin, Henry (1896) [1896]. Gallery of Players from the Illustrated American (hardcover) (1st ed.). New York, NY: The Illustrated American – via Google Books.
Websites
- "The Lambs History". the-lambs.org. The Lambs, Inc. February 12, 2025. (Member Roster). Retrieved February 12, 2025.