Shaun Glenville

Male, ID #9680, b. 16 May 1884, d. circa November 1968
FatherBrabazon Henry Browne (bt 1844 - 1849 - 1910)
MotherMary Lynch (bt 1850 - 1851 - )

Alternate Names

     He was also known as John Browne his true name.

Birth, Marriage and Death information

     Shaun Glenville was born on 16 May 1884 at Little Denmark Street, Dublin, DUB, IRL; Birmingham, WAR recorded in 1901 census. Son of Henry Browne (accountant) and Mary nee Lynch.
     He married Dorothy Ward circa May 1911 at St George Hanover Square registered, MDX, ENG, Shaun marrying as Shaun G Browne.
     He died circa November 1968 at Marylebone registered, MDX, ENG; with obituary:
Mr Shaun Glenville the Irish actor, a famous pantomime dame has died in his London home. He was 84.

His theatrical life was so closely linked with that of his talented wife, Miss Dorothy Ward, that it is sometimes difficult to remember the good work they did in their early career. But it will be for their work in pantomime that they will be best remembered. To hundreds and thousands of playgoers Miss Ward will always be first and foremost a Principal Boy and Mr Glenville the dame who provided the comedy.

Born in Ireland on May 16th 1884 of a mother who was the manager of the Abbey Theatre Dublin, he made his first appearance when a baby in arms of two weeks in Dion Boucicault’s drama “Arrah-na-Pogue” at the Theatre Royal Birmingham, and 68 years later he played Mr Ablett in “Trelawny Of The Wells” at the Lyric Theatre Hammersmith.

Between those times he had played a wide variety of parts both in this country and in the United States. He first appeared in London in 1907 in a sketch at the Holborn Empire. He was in the revue “Razzle Dazzle” at Drury Lane in 1916 and he went to New York in 1921 for a successful production of “Quality Street” in which he played Sergeant O’Toole, with Miss Ward as Phoebe. He was with her again at the Winter Garden in London in “The Whirl of New York” in 1921.

When he could find time to tear himself away from pantomime Glenville was a welcome entertainer on the Music Halls, and two of his Irish sketches “Something in the Irish after all” and “He’s a credit to old Ireland now” were immensely popular.

He leaves a son, Mr Peter Glenville, the actor and director.

Other information

     See http://www.its-behind-you.com/wardglenville.html.
     He took the name Shaun GLENVILLE from the 1901 census onwards (taking the name from Glenville House in Co. Wicklow.)

Address(es), Census(es) & Occupation(s)

  • Shaun was an actor on 31 March 1901.
  • He appeared on the census of 31 March 1901 at 13 Furlong Lane, Burslem, STS, ENG; recorded age 16, boarding with widowed Alice Willet.
  • Shaun was a music hall artist on 2 April 1911.
  • He appeared on the census of 2 April 1911 at 61 Binfield Road, Lambeth, SRY, ENG; recorded age 26, living as nephew to Dargaville and Mary Browne (both born Dublin.)

Family

Dorothy Ward b. 26 Apr 1890, d. 30 Mar 1987
Child