Edward Donnelly
(b. Benson, Vermont, 13/11/1872 - d. Bennington, Vermont, 22/05/1940). An American stage actor who was active between 1898 and 1930, Edward Donnelly was born in rural Vermont and according to the local Bennington Evening Banner, he retained his link with the area. His name first comes up in the cast list of Rupert of Hentzau (1898) and after that he toured all over the United States with various stock companies, including that of David Belasco. An article in Stage & Cinema reported that he had also appeared in motion pictures, supporting Clara Kimball Young and others.
In March 1917 it was announced that he would be a member of the newly established American Dramatic Company that would sail for a tour of South Africa to play the houses controlled by the African Theatres Trust. The company was recruited by Wyrley Birch and also included George Stillwell, Louise Holden, Florence Roberts, Richard Scott and Naomi Rutherford. Towards the end of 1917 his brother in Bennington received a letter to say that they were doing excellent business and were likely to stay for another year.
After their arrival in Cape Town the company travelled to Johannesburg to appear at His Majesty's Theatre in Kick In, The Heart of Wetano, Help Wanted and The Easiest Way. After that they embarked on a country-wide tour (including the Theatre Royal in Durban and the Cape Town Opera House) and then returned to Johannesburg. Other plays in their repertoire were The 13th Chair, Daddy Long Legs, Mrs. Wiggs of the Cabbage Patch and Turn to the Right. In 1918 he played the part of Mr. Bond in Dick Cruikshanks's film Bond and Word for African Film Productions and in 1919 he appeared on the stage with Madge Fabian and Frank Cellier in Romance. He left South Africa from Durban in May of that year and returned to the United States via London.
Back in America he resumed his theatrical career there and appeared on stages all over the country. His last stage appearance seems to have been in Everything’s Jake, a play by Don Marquis that had a brief run at the Assembly Theatre on Broadway in January 1930. He died in his home state of Vermont in 1940. He was married to Caroline Locke. (FO)
(Note: Various authoritative sources give his birthdate as either 1870, 1871 or 1873, but on a passport application of 1918 he himself states that he was born in Benson, Vermont in 1872.)
Sources
The New York Clipper, 21 March 1917
Stage & Cinema, 14 April 1917
The Bennington Evening Banner, 15 August 1917
The New York Times, 23 May 1940
Variety, 29 May 1940
Bryan, George A. - A historical who's who of Vermont theatre
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