James Keteltas Hackett
Encyclopedia
James Keteltas Hackett was an American
actor and manager
.
, a comedian
and celebrated Falstaff
. His elderly father died age 71 when Hackett was just two years old thus never living to see Hackett grow to an adult. He was born in Ontario, Canada, and graduated from the College of the City of New York
in 1891.
Hackett made his professional debut in Philadelphia in 1892 as Francois in The Broken Seal. In New York later that year, he played opposite Mrs. Potter. Later in the decade, he played Romeo to Olga Nethersole
's Juliet, and Mercutio to Maude Adams
's Juliet. Hackett played Captain Basil Jennico in the 1900 production of The Pride of Jennico
with Bertha Galland
in her New York stage debut.
In 1913, Adolph Zukor
lured Hackett from the stage to star in director Edwin Porter's film The Prisoner of Zenda (1913), for a role which Hackett had played in the theater numerous times. Since feature films were in their infancy (indeed The Prisoner of Zenda is considered the first five-reel American film) Hackett was at first reluctant to take the part. Zukor tried to convince Hackett in person, and as Neal Gabler
writes, "When Hackett came to visit Zukor, he was the very picture of the faded matinee idol. He wore a fur-collared coat with frayed sleeves and carried a gold-headed cane".
In 1897, he married the actress Mary Mannering
and in 1911 Beatrice Mary Beckley. He and Mannering had a daughter Elise together. Beckley appeared with Hackett in Hackett's debut film The Prisoner of Zenda for Zukor's Famous Players company.
Recorder John K. Hackett
(1821–1879) was his half-brother. In 1914, James inherited the larger part of the estate, valued at $1,389,049.46, from his niece Minnie (Hackett) Trowbridge (1850–1914), the only child of his brother John. At age 57, Minnie had married Francis Emory Trowbridge (1845–1910), and died without issue.;
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
actor and manager
Actor-manager
An actor-manager is a leading actor who sets up their own permanent theatrical company and manages the company's business and financial arrangements, sometimes taking over the management of a theatre, to perform plays of their own choice and in which they will usually star...
.
Life
He was the son of James Henry HackettJames Henry Hackett
James Henry Hackett , was a renowned actor.Hackett entered Columbia College in 1815 but withdrew. He then studied law privately. In 1818, he became a wholesale clerk in a grocery firm in New York. In 1819, he married Catherine Leebuff, a young actress...
, a comedian
Comedian
A comedian or comic is a person who seeks to entertain an audience, primarily by making them laugh. This might be through jokes or amusing situations, or acting a fool, as in slapstick, or employing prop comedy...
and celebrated Falstaff
Falstaff
Sir John Falstaff is a fictional character who appears in three plays by William Shakespeare. In the two Henry IV plays, he is a companion to Prince Hal, the future King Henry V. A fat, vain, boastful, and cowardly knight, Falstaff leads the apparently wayward Prince Hal into trouble, and is...
. His elderly father died age 71 when Hackett was just two years old thus never living to see Hackett grow to an adult. He was born in Ontario, Canada, and graduated from the College of the City of New York
City College of New York
The City College of the City University of New York is a senior college of the City University of New York , in New York City. It is also the oldest of the City University's twenty-three institutions of higher learning...
in 1891.
Hackett made his professional debut in Philadelphia in 1892 as Francois in The Broken Seal. In New York later that year, he played opposite Mrs. Potter. Later in the decade, he played Romeo to Olga Nethersole
Olga Nethersole
Olga Isabella Nethersole, CBE, RRC was an English actress, theatre producer, and wartime nurse/health educator.-Biography:...
's Juliet, and Mercutio to Maude Adams
Maude Adams
Maude Ewing Kiskadden , known professionally as Maude Adams, was an American stage actress who achieved her greatest success as Peter Pan. Adams's personality appealed to a large audience and helped her become the most successful and highest-paid performer of her day, with a yearly income of more...
's Juliet. Hackett played Captain Basil Jennico in the 1900 production of The Pride of Jennico
The Pride of Jennico
The Pride of Jennico is a four-act play based on the book by the same name from Agnes and Egerton Castle published in 1897 by the Macmillan Company....
with Bertha Galland
Bertha Galland
Bertha Galland was an American dramatic stage actress remembered for her romantic roles.-Early life:She was the daughter of Berthold Galland and the former Anna Miller Hawley...
in her New York stage debut.
In 1913, Adolph Zukor
Adolph Zukor
Adolph Zukor , born Adolph Cukor, was a film mogul and founder of Paramount Pictures.-Early life:...
lured Hackett from the stage to star in director Edwin Porter's film The Prisoner of Zenda (1913), for a role which Hackett had played in the theater numerous times. Since feature films were in their infancy (indeed The Prisoner of Zenda is considered the first five-reel American film) Hackett was at first reluctant to take the part. Zukor tried to convince Hackett in person, and as Neal Gabler
Neal Gabler
Neal Gabler is a professor, journalist, author, film critic and political commentator.He graduated summa cum laude from the University of Michigan and holds advanced degrees in film and American culture.-Journalist:...
writes, "When Hackett came to visit Zukor, he was the very picture of the faded matinee idol. He wore a fur-collared coat with frayed sleeves and carried a gold-headed cane".
In 1897, he married the actress Mary Mannering
Mary Mannering
Mary Mannering was an Anglo-American actress, born in London. She studied for the stage under Hermann Vezin. She made her debut at Manchester in 1892 under her own name of Florence Friend....
and in 1911 Beatrice Mary Beckley. He and Mannering had a daughter Elise together. Beckley appeared with Hackett in Hackett's debut film The Prisoner of Zenda for Zukor's Famous Players company.
Recorder John K. Hackett
John K. Hackett
John Keteltas Hackett was an American lawyer and politician from New York.-Life:...
(1821–1879) was his half-brother. In 1914, James inherited the larger part of the estate, valued at $1,389,049.46, from his niece Minnie (Hackett) Trowbridge (1850–1914), the only child of his brother John. At age 57, Minnie had married Francis Emory Trowbridge (1845–1910), and died without issue.;
Publications
- Strang, Famous Actors of the Day in America, (Boston, 1900)
- William WinterWilliam Winter (author)William Winter was an American dramatic critic and author.-Biography:Born in Gloucester, Massachusetts, Winter graduated from Harvard Law School in 1857...
, The Wallet of Time, (two volumes, New York, 1913)