Clarence Handyside

Clarence Auckland Handyside (April 28, 1854 – December 20, 1931) was an actor born in Montreal, Quebec, Canada, who built a career spanning stage and screen across several decades. He took his first professional acting steps in Canada at the age of 21 before establishing himself as a recognized presence in New York theatrical circles.

Handyside's Broadway career extended from 1887 to 1928 and encompassed a range of productions. His stage credits included The Furies, Virtue(?), Nancy Lee, The Masquerader, and The Guilty Man, among other appearances. His reputation in New York was sufficiently established that by 1912 he was described as a long-standing favorite in the city.

Beyond Broadway, Handyside participated in summer stock theater, including at least two consecutive seasons at the Elitch Theatre in Denver, Colorado, by 1912. He spoke publicly about his affection for the Elitch Gardens company, noting the particular closeness that developed among performers who lived and worked together during the summer months, in contrast to the more transient conditions of touring productions. He credited Mary Elitch Long's management of the company as contributing to the warm atmosphere among the players.

Handyside also pursued a film career, appearing in a number of silent pictures. His screen credits included The Jungle (1914), Saints and Sinners (1916), The Woman in the Case (1916), His Picture in the Papers (1916), Mice and Men (1916), A Woman of Impulse (1918), From Two to Six (1918), Rose of the World (1918), and The Turn of the Wheel (1918), in which he played an American Consul. He was married twice, to Blanche Sharp and to Kate D. Baker. Handyside died on December 20, 1931, in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, survived by his wife.