Cecil Lean

Cecil Worthington Starr Lean (July 7, 1878 – July 18, 1935) was a Canadian-American actor, singer, composer, and lyricist whose Broadway career spanned from 1908 to 1931. Born in London, Ontario, the son of John Udie Lean, he relocated with his father to Detroit, Michigan during childhood and began acting at the age of 13. By age 19, he had moved to Chicago, where he built an early reputation performing in a series of musical comedies at the La Salle Theater.

Lean's Broadway credits included The Soul Kiss, Bright Eyes, The Man with Three Wives, The Blue Paradise, Miss 1917, Look Who's Here, The Blushing Bride, Innocent Eyes, and Everybody's Welcome. His contributions to several of these productions extended beyond performance: he provided additional lyrics for Bright Eyes and Look Who's Here, and contributed both additional lyrics and additional music to The Blue Paradise. Throughout his stage career, Lean maintained a frequent professional association with producer Flo Ziegfeld. Beyond the theater, he was also recognized as a radio comedian.

On September 21, 1902, Lean married actress Florence Holbrook in a ceremony at the Little Church Around the Corner in Manhattan. The pair performed exclusively together and were widely known by the nicknames "Lovey" and "Dovey." The couple separated in 1910, and by 1912 reports indicated they were remaining married for professional reasons. After three prior divorce proceedings were dismissed, the marriage formally ended in late 1913.

Lean first encountered actress Cleo Mayfield in Chicago in 1912 during the production of The Military Girl at the Ziegfeld Theatre. The two entered a romantic relationship that remained known only to a small circle of close friends, and in February 1914 they married in a civil ceremony in Chicago. From that point forward, Lean and Mayfield appeared together frequently in theatrical productions for the remainder of his career.

Lean died on July 18, 1935, in Manhattan, collapsing of an apparent heart attack in the presence of Mayfield.