DEATH OF JOHN KIRBY.

Press, Volume LXVI, Issue 19917, 2 May 1930, Page 19

DEATH OF JOHN KIRBY.

NOTED NEW ZEALAND ACTOR. (raOM OTO OW» OOBBESyOHDKirr.) LONPQN, March 31. Mr John Kirby, the New Zealand actor and aomedlan, will be greatly missed, not only by a large circle of friends, bnt by thousands of theatregoers in London. His sudden illness and his death on Tuesday came as a great shock to all who knew him personally, or as one of the leading comedians of the West End stage. He had been playing in "Silver Wings" at the Dominion Theatre. He was in excellent form at the matinee on Saturday, and although, it is understood, be was not feeling well in the evening, he played his part. Ho returned to the Eccentric Club, where he had lived for the paßt three or four years, and some time during Sunday he was taken seriously ill with cerebral hromorrhage. Ho was removed to a nursing homo on Monday morning, but he remained in a state of coma until his death on Tuesday, It was a, great shock for the member* of the company, when they arrived at the theatre for the evening performance, to hear that he was dead. Before coming to thbj fiv« years ago~~he had won prominence as a comedian in Australia. His first appearance in the West End was Jn "The London v ßevue" at the Lyceum, He was the attraction of the show, and his performance as a comic taxi-driver hrought him ; at once right to the front. Ho appeared with great suecess in a number of musical play», including "Tip Tees," at the Winter Garden? "Lady Luck," at the Carlton; "Shake You're Feet," at the Hippodrome} "Oh Kay," at His Majesty's; "Vjrignia" and "Hold Everything," at the Falaee. Mr Kirby, who was born in Punedln, was only 85 years of age. His parents and a brother and sister live in Sydney. Th« JFwwral. The funeral took place to-day at Kensal Green Catholic Cemetery, About a hundred People, mainly belonging to the theatrical profession were present. These included Mr Stanley Brighton, Mr Tom Burke, Mr Frederick Polton (manager of the Dominions Theatre), Mr H. Bannerman, Mr Herbert Clayton, Mr Joseph Cunningham, Mr Ben Pawsen, Mr Charles Downer, Mr W. H. Dawes, Mr Harold French, Mr Ernest Graham, Mr- Tom Holt (representing Messrs Williamson, Ltd.), Mr J. A. Harrison (secretary of the Eccentric Club), Mr Claude Harper, Mr F. C. Hawkins, Captain A. Illingworth, Mr Percv W. Jones, Mr William Kendall, Mr Lupino Lane, Mr Bert Lee, Mr Mervyn McPheraon, Mr William Mollison, Mr Clifford Mollison, Mr Henry Mollison, Mr Peter .Neale, Mr Jacob Raine, Mr Tom Shale, Mr Tom Shephard, Mr B, J. Tait, Mr H. H, full, Mr James Waller, Miss Peggy Beadella, Miss Emma Haig, Miss Vera Pearce, "Jim" (Mr Kirby's dresser), and the entire stage staff of the Dominions Theatre. Many beautiful wreaths were laid on the grave.