DEATH OF A VETERAN ACTOR.

Evening Post, Volume LXIV, Issue 149, 20 December 1902, Page 5

DEATH OF A VETERAN ACTOR.

[press associatioit.l (Received December 20, 10.20 a.m.) MELBOURNE, This Day. The death is announced' of Mr. James Catiicnrt, the well-known actor, nged 74. It is fifty years since Mr. James Cathcart made his first appearance under Charles Kean, and he retired finally from tho st:igc at the end of 1901. He was well known in all the colonies as an exponent of tho soundest and best methods of the old theatrical school, and was a "man of' most versatile talent. On his retirement tho Melbourne Argus wrote of him : '"He is, perhaps, one of the oldest of living actors. He made his first appearance on the stag© when three yoars old, as Cora's child in tho old play, 'Pizarro,' and has since gone through all the troubles and trials of an actor's life — as call-boy, prompter, &taga manager, etc. . . . .' lfe has in his time played with some of tho acknowledged artists of his day, notably Mr. and Mis. Ghz.\. Kean, '•Mr. Mncready, Miss. Helen Faucitt, Mrs. Glover, Mra. Nisbitt, Mr. Wm, , Farren, Mr. S. v Phelpa, Mr. Walter Montgomery, Mr. Chas. Matthews, Mr. Btirry Sullivan, etc. He first catno to Melbourne in 1863, with .Mr. and Mrs. Chf.s. Koan, his return visit being in the April of 1879. In the early fifties, whilst in London, he had ,the honour of being one of Her Majesty's servants, and on nineteen occasions was engaged in the theatrical representations, under the direction of Cba3. Kean, at Windsor Castle." The veteran actor made his last appearance in Kcvr Zealand with tho U 11. Stanford Dramatic Company, in 1901.