William H. Crane

Not to be confused with William H. Crain.
William H. Crane
Crane in 1923
Born April 30, 1845
Leicester, Massachusetts, U.S.
Died March 7, 1928 (aged 82)
Hollywood, California, U.S.
Nationality American
Occupation Actor
Years active 1863–1928
Signature

William Henry Crane (April 30, 1845 – March 7, 1928) was an American actor.

Early years

Crane was born in Leicester, Massachusetts on April 30, 1845. He grew up in Boston and graduated from Brimmer School.

Career

He made his first professional appearance at Utica, New York, in Donizetti's The Daughter of the Regiment on July 13, 1865. He made his first hit in the legitimate drama with Stuart Robson in The Comedy of Errors and other Shakespearian plays. This partnership lasted for 12 years. He had successes as Le Blanc the Notary in the Victorian burlesque Evangeline (1873) and The Henrietta (1881, with Robson) by Bronson Howard. Subsequently Crane appeared in various eccentric character parts in such plays as The Senator and David Harum.

1898 poster for Crane's starring role in the Broadway production of His Honor the Mayor

In 1904 Crane turned to more serious works and played Isidore Izard in Business is Business, an adaptation of Octave Mirbeau's Les Affaires sont les Affaires. In his 70s, Crane appeared in a number of films, notably in a reprise of his role in David Harum (1915). He also appeared in MGM's Three Wise Fools, which was revived on Turner Classic Movies and is available on home video/DVD.

Death

Crane died on March 7, 1928, at the age of 82 in the Hollywood Hotel.

Partial filmography