Casson, Lewis Thomas (Sir)

1875

1969

One of the important actors of the first half of the twentieth century, Lewis Casson was born at Birkenhead on 26 October 1875, the son of Thomas and Laura Casson. He made his first professional appearance at the Royalty Theatre, London, on 7 November 1903 as Polixenes in “The Winter’s Tale”. After some touring he joined the Barker-Vedrenne company at the Court Theatre from 1904 to 1907, appearing in a number of Bernard Shaw’s plays and in Shakespearean roles. He also appeared at Frohman’s Duke of York and in New York in 1910. In 1911 he became director of the Gaiety Theatre in Manchester, where he also acted many roles, including Brutus in “Julius Caesar”. There he met Sybil Thorndike, whom he married. He assumed the directorship of the Royalty Theatre in Glasgow in 1914, directing and acting in many productions. Casson spent much of his career directing plays and touring throughout the world, often in productions with his wife. He was President of Actors’ Equity 1940-1945. In 1945 Casson was knighted for his services to the theatre. He received honorary degrees from Glasgow and Wales. In 1954 he became a member of the Garrick Club. Casson first appeared in films in 1933 and on television in 1946. He continued an active professional life into the 1960s, playing Telyegin in “Uncle Vanya” at the Chichester Festival in July 1963 and Harding in “Queen B” at Windsor in September 1963. He died on 16 May 1969 at 93. (WWWT)