Ernest Lawford

Ernest Lawford (1870–1940) was an English stage and film actor whose career spanned five decades, beginning in London and extending through a long and active presence on the Broadway stage. Born in England, he made his theatrical debut in 1890 at the St. James's Theatre in London, appearing in As You Like It. Early stage work included productions of Charley's Aunt and A Woman of No Importance, and he toured the provinces with George Alexander. In 1894 he appeared in several plays alongside Arnold Daly at the Drury Lane Theatre.

Lawford made his first New York appearance in 1903, again working with Arnold Daly in Candida. He subsequently signed with producer Charles Frohman, through whom he became the first actor to play Mr. Darling in the American production of Peter Pan, opposite Maude Adams. He continued with Frohman in drawing room productions throughout that period. Among his notable Broadway appearances were Passers-by, The Beautiful Adventure, Pre-Honeymoon, The Shadow, and A Good Little Devil. He appeared with Grace George in Major Barbara in 1915, and in 1921 took part in The Circle alongside John Drew and Mrs. Leslie Carter. A modern-dress production of Hamlet in 1925 with Basil Sydney was another significant credit, and one of his final New York engagements was Tovarich in 1936. His Broadway career stretched from 1903 to 1939.

Although Lawford worked primarily in the theatre, he also appeared in films. His screen debut came in 1914 in A Good Little Devil with Mary Pickford. Subsequent film appearances included The On-the-Square Girl (1917), The Fighter (1921), Irish Luck (1925), and Personal Maid (1931), the last of which was directed by Monta Bell. Bell married Lawford's daughter, Betty, around the time that film was made.

In his personal life, Lawford was among the men rumored to have been engaged to Ethel Barrymore early in her career, though he later married Janet Slater. The couple had one child, Betty Lawford. The actor Peter Lawford was his cousin. Ernest Lawford died in New York on December 27, 1940.