Alexander Carr

Alexander Carr (1878–1946) was a Russian-born stage and screen actor, book writer, vaudevillian, and burlesque and circus performer whose Broadway career spanned from 1907 to 1931. Born in Rumni, Russia, Carr built his performance experience across multiple disciplines and venues before establishing himself as a recognized presence in American theater and film.

Carr's earliest stage work took place at a music hall in St. Paul, Minnesota, followed by appearances in theaters in Louisville, Nashville, and Buffalo. In Chicago he performed at the Trocadero Theatre. His first New York appearance came in 1904 at the Circle Theatre, where he appeared in Wine, Women and Song performing imitations of David Warfield. Three years later, in 1907, he made his Broadway debut in the musical revue The Gay White Way, where he costarred alongside Jefferson De Angelis and Blanche Ring.

Among his most significant stage work was his role in Potash and Perlmutter, the long-running ethnic Jewish play that began its Broadway run in 1913. Carr played Morris Perlmutter — known ethnically as Mawruss — opposite his friend and stage partner Barney Bernard. The production became one of the most successful plays of the early twentieth century on Broadway. Carr also appeared on Broadway in Business Before Pleasure, The Wooden Soldier, and The Guinea Pig, among other productions.

The Potash and Perlmutter property extended into film when it was adapted as a silent picture in 1923, with a sequel following in 1924 after Bernard's death. Beyond those films, Carr appeared sporadically in silent cinema before becoming a more frequent presence in sound pictures. His film work continued through 1940, when he completed his final movie, Christmas in July. His younger brother was fellow performer Nat Carr. Alexander Carr died in Los Angeles in 1946.