William Postance

William C. F. Postance (June 4, 1874 – April 14, 1953) was a British-born theatre actor, playwright, producer, and director who also worked in silent film. Born in Great Britain, he began his career at the age of thirteen as a call boy at the Garrick Theatre, and by fifteen he was serving as a prompter on a production of Diplomacy performed before Queen Victoria. He later joined Olga Nethersole in Sandou's La Tosca, an early credit that placed him within prominent theatrical circles. Over the course of his career, Postance was involved in 167 plays and performed before Queen Victoria, Edward VII, William Ewart Gladstone, and Woodrow Wilson.

A significant portion of Postance's professional life was devoted to his association with actor William Gillette. He served as Gillette's personal director for thirteen years and maintained a working relationship with him spanning more than four decades. Among the most notable products of that collaboration was the stage adaptation of Sherlock Holmes, for which Postance helped Gillette prepare the script and directed the London production. He later returned to the play in a 1930 Broadway production, this time both directing and performing the role of Sidney Prince. He had previously played the same role in the 1916 silent film adaptation of Sherlock Holmes.

Postance's Broadway career extended from 1909 to 1941 and encompassed work as both a performer and a book writer. His Broadway credits include The Governor's Boss, for which he served as writer, as well as A Touch of Brimstone, The Distant Shore, and The Man Who Came to Dinner. He appeared as Sir Francis Beekman in the 1927 Broadway production of Gentlemen Prefer Blondes. His final stage appearance came with The Man Who Came to Dinner in 1940. Beyond performing, he directed numerous productions throughout his career, among them The Morals of Marcus, The Richest Girl, Captain Kid, Robin Goodfellow, Carmen, Camille, Tea for Three, and The Admirable Crichton. His film work included a role in the 1916 production of The Iron Woman in addition to his appearance in the 1916 Sherlock Holmes.

Postance died on April 14, 1953, at St. Mary's Hospital in Hoboken, New Jersey, at the age of seventy-eight.