Harry Irvine (actor)

Harry Irvine (January 30, 1877 – August 7, 1951) was a British barrister turned actor, known in America during his later career for his many roles as clergymen. He first came to America with Johnston Forbes-Robertson's tour of 1915-1916, decided to stay, and taught acting at the Brooklyn Institute. He portrayed Archbishop Thomas Beckett in the 1936 Broadway premiere of Murder in the Cathedral by T. S. Eliot, Regnault de Chartres the Archbishop of Rheims in Joan of Lorraine, and Bishop Fisher in the original Anne of the Thousand Days, both by Maxwell Anderson. He also wrote one-act plays and The Actor's Art and Job, a well-received book for potential apprentices on acting as a profession.

Early years

He was born John Henry Irvine in Vellore, British India, to George Duncan Irvine, a civil servant, and Emily Gertrude Kelly, on January 30, 1877, and was baptized a month later. In 1881, Irvine and his older siblings Emily and Francis were in England, living with their aunt Margaret Irvine in Middlesex. By age 14, Irvine and Francis were boarders in Bristol, while attending Clifton College. Irvine later graduated from Corpus Christi College, Oxford, with a B.A., and spent a period of time tutoring the children of Sir Hubert Herkomer at Bushey. After failing the exam for the Indian Civil Service, Irvine read law, and was called to the Bar at the Inner Temple.

UK stage career

While tutoring at Bushey, Irvine had joined the local amateur drama society.