William Harrigan

William Harrigan (March 27, 1894 – February 1, 1966) was an American actor who performed in Hollywood during the 1930s and 1940s and on stage.

William Harrigan
Still from the film Nix on Dames (1929). At table from left: Robert Ames, Mae Clarke, and Harrigan.
BornMarch 27, 1894
DiedFebruary 1, 1966, aged 71
OccupationActor
Parent
RelativesNedda Harrigan (sister)

Early years

Harrigan was born in New York City and attended New York Military Academy. Harrigan was the son of actor Edward Harrigan[1] and the grandson of composer David Braham. His sister was Nedda Harrigan, which made him the brother-in-law of director/playwright Joshua Logan.[2] Harrigan's family were one of the oldest acting families known: they had appeared on the stage uninterrupted since 1660.[3]

Harrigan first performed on stage when he was 5 years old, joining his father in a production of Reilly and the 400 at the Garrick Theater.[2]

During World War I, Harrigan was a captain in the 307th Infantry Regiment of the 77th Division.[2]

Career

Following his school years, Harrigan acted in New York theaters in plays that included Bought and Paid For and Springtime. He also toured Australia in 1915 as part of a company led by Charles Millward.[2]

Harrigan's Broadway debut was in Old Lavender (1906).[4] He also performed with his father in a touring company of Old Lavender.[2] In 1933 he played detective Charlie Chan in a Broadway adaptation of novel Keeper of the Keys.[5] He created the role of the captain in the Broadway hit Mister Roberts, which his brother-in-law Joshua Logan co-wrote and directed.[2]

His film debut came in 1917.[6] Films in which he appeared included Born Reckless, Cabaret, The Invisible Man, and Nix on Dames.[2] Harrigan performed in vaudeville, including a 1927 performance of Irish ballads at the Palace Theater.[2] In 1929 he was the leading man for the summer stock at Denver's Elitch Theatre.[7]

Personal life and death

Harrigan was married to, and divorced from, Dorothy Langdon and Louise Groody. At the time of his death he was married to Grace Culbert. He died on February 1, 1966, in New York City, aged 71.[2]

Partial filmography

References
  1. Hischak, Thomas S. (2003). Enter the Players: New York Stage Actors in the Twentieth Century. Scarecrow Press. p. 142. ISBN 978-0-8108-4761-3. Retrieved September 29, 2020.
  2. "William Harrigan, Stage and Screen Veteran, Dies". The New York Times. February 2, 1966. p. 32. Retrieved April 17, 2022.
  3. Audio commentary by film historian Rudy Behlmer on The Invisible Man (1933)
  4. "William Harrigan". Internet Broadway Database. The Broadway League. Archived from the original on September 29, 2020. Retrieved September 29, 2020.
  5. Lachman, Marvin (2014). The villainous stage : crime plays on Broadway and in the West End. McFarland. ISBN 978-0-7864-9534-4. OCLC 903807427.
  6. Erickson, Hal. "William Harrigan". AllMovie. Archived from the original on May 15, 2019. Retrieved April 17, 2022.
  7. Borrillo, Theodore A. Denver's historic Elitch Theatre : a nostalgic journey (a history of its times). ISBN 978-0-9744331-4-1. OCLC 1122759488.

Sources
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