J. Harry Benrimo

J. Harry Benrimo, (1874–1942), actor, playwright, and director.

Coming from a talented family, actor, playwright, and stage director (Joseph Harry) Benrimo was born in 1874 in San Francisco. After traveling in China and Japan in his youth, he became intrigued by 'Asian Theater', becoming an actor in San Francisco. He was a member of the Alcazar stock company from 1892 until 1897, when playing the character, Hop Kee in The Play First born, he was discovered by Playwrite-Director, David Belasco. He made his first Brodway Appearance on The New York Stage In Lord and Lady Algy (1899). He would be in the original cast member of The Girl of The Golden West (1905), The Rose of The Rancho (1906).While under Belasco's wing, in 1910, he turned to playwriting and co-authored The yellow jacket (1912), Taking chances (1915), and The willow tree (1917). In 1914 he became general director for the Shuberts, and staged several succesful shows, including his own. He died in New York in 1942. (1)

Citations

1. Benrimo set and costume designs, 1912-1917.
2. Benrimo, J[oseph] Harry  in  The Oxford Companion to American Theatre
3. The Several Lives of Joseph Conrad (Google eBook) John Stape Random House LLC, May 25, 2011 - Biography & Autobiography - 400 pages 6 Reviews. Page 327

Sources

1. iMdb
2. The Papers of Will Rogers: From vaudeville to Broadway : September 1908-August 1915 Will Rogers, Steven K. Gragert, M. Jane Johansson University of Oklahoma Press, May 1, 2001 - Biography & Autobiography - 544 pages. Page 392
3. His wife or not, she wants divorce

Links

• http://trees.ancestry.com/tree/12238396/person/12794662769

Family Note: Under the wing of David Belasco, it has been suggested that J.H. Benrimo's zeal and interest in 'Asian Theater', may have influenced Belasco in creating the stage play "Madame Butterfly". It is not known if Belasco consulted directly or indirectly with Benrimo in the creating of the stage play.