Marie George

Marie George, born Clara Marie Georg on 25 June 1876 in New York City to German-American parents, was an American actress, singer, and stage performer whose career spanned both New York and London during the Edwardian era. Upon entering the profession, she adopted an anglicized spelling of her surname. She died in London on 15 July 1955 at the age of 79.

George's Broadway career ran from 1897 to 1914 and included appearances in a number of musical productions. Among her New York credits were The Strollers, The Rounders, In Gay Paree, Yankee Doodle Dandy, and The Laughing Husband.

Following her marriage to American theatrical manager Norman J. Norman, George relocated to London, where she built a substantial stage career. At the Shaftesbury Theatre in 1900, she took on the role of Dolly Twinkle in The Casino Girl, and the following year she appeared in the American musical comedy The Belle of Bohemia at the Apollo Theatre. In 1905, she played Cornelia in The White Chrysanthemum at the Criterion Theatre.

A significant portion of her London work came through the annual pantomime productions at the Theatre Royal, Drury Lane, where she appeared regularly over several years. In 1902 she played Gretchen in Mother Goose alongside Dan Leno, and in 1903 she was cast as Principal Girl in Humpty Dumpty, though illness forced her withdrawal and she was replaced by Mabel Love. Subsequent Drury Lane pantomimes saw her as Cupid in The White Cat in 1904, Ruby in Sinbad in 1906, Cissie in Babes in the Wood in 1907, Katrina in Dick Whittington in 1908, and the title role in Aladdin in 1909.

Beyond pantomime, George appeared as Poll Merrie in Lady Tatters at the Shaftesbury Theatre in 1907, opposite Courtice Pounds and Walter Passmore. She later played Mariza opposite Passmore again in Baron Trenck at the Strand Theatre in 1911. That same year, in July, she performed at Brighton Palace Pier alongside Herbert Sparling, whose act included a comic turn as a pianoforte tuner. In 1912, George took the title role in a British touring production of the musical comedy The Boy Scout, which also featured C. Hayden Coffin. In 1915, she appeared as Mrs. Pineapple in the first revival of A Chinese Honeymoon at the Prince of Wales Theatre.