Lewis Waller, the British Beaucaire
Flickr user Truus uploaded a fine vintage postcard image of Grace Lane and Lewis Waller, including an excellent biographical summary of the two. Here’s some of what Truus included about Lewis:
Lewis Waller (1860-1915) was best known as something of a matinee-idol in the popular romantic plays of his day. He also worked as a playwriter and a stage manager. He was born William Waller Lewis in Bilbao, Spain, as the son of a civil engineer. He first appeared on the London stage in 1883, and came to the front by a fine performance as Buckingham in The Three Musketeers under legendary English actor Herbert Beerbohm Tree’s management at His Majesty’s in 1895. Soon afterwards he organized a company of his own, first at the Haymarket and afterwards at other theatres. His fine voice and vigorous acting earned him critical acclaim in a number of Shakespeare roles, such as the title character in Henry V, Brutus in Julius Caesar, and Faulkenbridge in King John. He had his greatest successes, however, in romantic roles, such as Monsieur Beaucaire, a dramatic adaptation of Booth Tarkington’s novel. He married Florence West, an actress who appeared often with Waller in his most successful romances.