DEATH OF AN ACTOR

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume LXXXI, Issue 19033, 10 June 1924, Page 11

DEATH OF AN ACTOR

CAREER OF THE LATE MR. H. R. ROBERTS. The late Mr. Harry Ri. Roberts,’ whose* death in Sydney occurred on Thursday, was a native of Auckland, and with the exception of a six years’ spell in America, his stage career was confined to Australia, with, occasional trips to New Zealand. It was in Dunedin that he first took to the stage professionally, playing in comedy, farce; and burlesque, with the late Mr John L. Hall, in company with that actor, Mr. Harry Hall, and his sister, Miss Laura Roberts. As a very young iqan Tie supported Mr. W. J. Holloway and Miss Essie Jenyns, and later on played parts many sind various with Charles Holloway, Walter Bentley, George Rignold, and other oldtime managements. At one time he tourd provincial Australia in the name part in “Hans the Boatman” (havfng at that time a very presentable baritone voice). He did some excellent work with Walter Bentley, and was then accounted an actor of great’ promise. In 1899 he went to the United States, where he succeeded in a playing part in New York in the Belasco production of “Du Barry,” with Mrs. Leslie Carter, and as the outcdYne of his success signed a five years’- contract. He returned to Australia and New Zealand with “The Prince Chap,” ’a comedy of sickly sentiment which scarcely enhanced, his reputation. Then he married Miss Maggie Moore, and ws conspicuously good as John Stofel in a revival of Oil/’ Miss Moore’s best known and earliest success. He also toured New Zealand during the war with the Plimmer-Hall Comedy Company and later came over with the first “Scandal” Company, supporting Miss Maude Hannaford and Mr. Frank Harvey.