Donald Brian

Donald Brian (February 17, 1877 – December 22, 1948) was an actor, dancer and singer born in St. John's, Newfoundland (now Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada). In 1907, he starred in the hit operetta The Merry Widow.

For the New Zealand cricketer, see Donald Brian (cricketer).
Donald Brian
Donald Brian c. 1914
BornFebruary 17, 1877
St. John's, Newfoundland
DiedDecember 22, 1948 (aged 71)
Great Neck, Long Island, New York
Occupation(s)actor
singer
Years active1899–1939
Spouses
  • Florence Meagher Gleason Pope (married 1910–?)
  • Virginia O'Brien (1 daughter)
Donald Brian in the original Broadway production of The Merry Widow (1907)

Life and career

Brian, a tenor, was employed in a Boston machine shop and, at the age of 16, began performing with a vocal quartet. When he joined a theatrical troupe in New York City, he was soon in demand as a leading man. He had leading roles in more than 20 Broadway musicals. In 1915 Brian signed with film producer Jesse L. Lasky to do two films, The Voice in the Fog (1915) and The Smugglers (1916). After the latter he made no more film appearances until the sound era. His first sound film was an excerpt of his role in Peggy O'Hooligan (1925), made in the DeForest Phonofilm sound-on-film process.

Brian was president of the Catholic Actors Guild of America.[1]

He was married twice—to Florence Meagher Gleason Pope in 1910,[2] and second to stage actress Virginia O'Brien(1896-?)[3] (not to be confused with the film actress born 1919). He and O'Brien had one daughter, Denise.[4]

Brian died on December 22, 1948, in Great Neck, New York, aged 73.[1]

Selected Broadway musicals and operettas
Donald Brian as Danilo in The Merry Widow, on the cover of The Theatre (February 1908)

See also

References
  1. "Donald Brian Dies; Retired Actor, 73". The New York Times. December 23, 1948. Retrieved 2017-07-05.
  2. "Married". The New York Dramatic Mirror. March 12, 1910. Retrieved 2017-07-05.
  3. American and British Theatrical Biography p.710 by J. P. Wearing c.1979 ISBN 0-8108-1201-0
  4. Great Stars of the American Stage (Profile #72) by Daniel C. Blum c. 1952 (reprint 1954)

Further reading
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