Wilton Lackaye
Wilton Lackaye was an American stage and film actor, who originated the role of Svengali in both stage and film.
Early life
William Andrew Lackey was born in Loudoun County, Virginia the son of James Lackey and his wife Margaret Bagnam. He attended Georgetown University and Ottawa College, initially planning to be a priest. As an amateur, he acted with the Lawrence Barrett Club of Washington.Career
Lackaye's professional acting debut occurred in 1883 when he portrayed Lucentio in Francesca da Rimini at the Star Theatre in New York. That summer, he performed with a stock company in Dayton, after which he worked with the Carrie Swain Company.He created the role of Svengali in the play Trilby in 1895 which he played on screen in 1915 opposite Clara Kimball Young. His film debut came in The Pit.
Lackaye toured in vaudeville during World War I, performing in the one-act plays Quits and The Bomb.
Personal life
He married three times: first to actress Annie Lewis, second to Alice Evans, and lastly to Katherine Alberta Riley. He had a son Wilton Lackaye Jr. with Alice Evans.He had two siblings in show business: James Lackaye Jr. and Helen Lackaye.