Person    | Male  Born 6/2/1838  Died 13/10/1905

Actor-manager. Born in Keinton-Mandeville, Somerset. Brought up in near poverty and was afflicted with a pronounced speech impediment. The first actor to be knighted. 1878 - 1902 he managed the Lyceum Theatre. For 25 years Ellen Terry partnered him in lavish productions of Shakespeare. It was also a long and personal partnership but the degree of intimacy is unknown. It is said that Stoker based the character of Dracula on Irving, his employer. Died after a performance, in the Midland Hotel, Bradford. His ashes were carried up the aisle of Westminster Abbey in a prop coffin.

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