Dyall, Franklin

1879

1950

The actor and producer Franklin Dyall was born in Liverpool on 3 February 1874, the son of Charles Dyall. He first appeared under George Alexander’s management at the St James’s on 28 April 1894 in “The Masqueraders”; other roles included Merriman in “The Importance of Being Earnest”, Claudius in “Hamlet” and Josef in “The Prisoner of Zenda”. In 1897 he joined Forbes-Robertson’s company at the Lyceum. Then for some 48 years he continued to appear on the London stage and in the provinces and abroad, playing dozens of leading and featured roles. In March 1935 he toured with Gielgud, acting Claudius. As late as 1945 he toured as Svengali in “Trilby”. He also directed many plays at various theatres, and appeared in numerous films. After his first marriage to Mary Phyllis Logan was dissolved, he married Mary Merrall, who in 1953 presented the bronze by Epstein (S0008) to the Garrick Club. Dyall became a member of the Garrick Club on 5 January 1934. He died on 8 May 1950.