FACE WORTH A FORTUNE.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LII, Issue 15948, 19 June 1915, Page 2 (Supplement)

FACE WORTH A FORTUNE.

THE PICTURE SHOW KING.

DEATH OF JOHN BUNNY. / No one in the realm of living pictures enjoyed the reputation or popularity of John Bunny, who lias just died in New York. People of every nation are familiar with Bunny's smile, and have roared with laughter at- 'his tribulations. Mr. Bunny, who weighed 18 stone, was born in New York City in September, 1863, but his father, George Bunny, and several generations of his ancestors, hailed from Penzance in Cornwall. Educated at St. James High School in Brooklyn, his first professional work at the age of 20 was as " end" man in an obscure minstrel company. When tlio'cinema boom came Bunny was caught up in the whirl, and rapidly bccame famous. But before this he played parts in comic opera, ShaKesperc, and more often in vaudeville. He offered his services to the Vitagraph Company in 1910, and was engaged at a salary of £8 a week, but it was not long before his salary had jumped to Over £200 a week. Though lie was a heavy man, his body was as mobile as his face, so that he never shrank from hazardous adventures with bucking bronchos, aeroplanes, or well-soaped stairs. He visited England in 1911, and acted for some films as Pickwick at Rochester and Gad's Hill with remarkable. success. He went to the Derby that year dressed as a coster, and in a donkey cart. The Epsom road will not let the memory of it die. Incidentally he visited Dockland in a private capacity, where he was at once • recognised and hailed with delight. Everybody knew him there, and the tribute was so unexpected and genuine that he was moved to tears. "It oould be truly said of Bunny," one of the Vitagraph firm stated, " that his face was his fortune. Ho was worth all the £10.000 a year which we paid him. ' There is a story about Bunny which may bo told now, though it could not be reported at the time the King was last visiting Scotland. One- member of the Royal procession bore a wonderful resemblance, all unconsciously, to the famous and heavy man. The respectful multitudes everywhere, waiting along the route to saluto the Sovereign, suddenly catching sight of what thpv thought was the veritable figure they had hitherto seen only in living pictures, enthusiastically shouted: "Bunny! Bunny!" to the wonderment of officials, and rocked with great joy. They thought it was really he at last, and the grave deprecation with which lie received their welcome only increased their merriment. That was just what they would have expected him to do. -Air. Bunny married a Miss Clara alien in 1890, and she and two, sons survive him.