Dudley Digges (actor) facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Dudley Digges
Digges as Boss Mangan in the 1920 Broadway production Heartbreak House, which he also directed
Born	John Dudley Digges 9 June 1879 Ranelagh, Dublin Ireland
Died	24 October 1947(1947-10-24) (aged 68) New York, N.Y. United States
Occupation	Actor, director, producer
Spouse(s)	Maire Quinn (m. 1907-1947; her death)

Dudley Digges (born John Dudley Digges) was a talented Irish actor. He was also a director and producer for the stage. Later, he became a well-known film actor. Digges was born on June 9, 1879, and passed away on October 24, 1947. He started his acting journey in Ireland. However, he spent most of his 43-year career in the United States. There, he performed in hundreds of stage shows and over 50 movies.

Early Life and Irish Theatre Beginnings

Digges (standing) in the 1921 Broadway production Mr. Pim Passes By, with Helen Westley, Erskine Sanford, and Laura Hope Crews

Dudley Digges was born in Ranelagh, a part of Dublin, in 1879. His parents were James Digges and Catherine Forsythe. He soon met theatre directors William and Frank Fay. This meeting sparked his interest in acting. He joined a group called W. G. Fay's Irish National Dramatic Company. Other members included Máire Nic Shiubhlaigh and Maire Quinn, who later became his wife.

Their first plays were Cathleen Ni Houlihan and Déirdre. They opened on April 2, 1902. The company had very little money. They turned two small rooms into a theatre. But this space was too small for their bigger plays. They practiced in other halls for their shows. In 1903, many of these actors and writers formed a new group. This group was called the Irish National Theatre Society. They later founded the famous Abbey Theatre in Dublin.

Building a Career in the United States

In 1904, Digges moved to America with other actors. He quickly became successful there. He worked as both an actor and a producer. For a while, he was a stage manager for famous people like Charles Frohman. By the 1920s, he was a big star on Broadway. Broadway is New York City's famous theatre district.

One of his most famous roles was Ficsur in Liliom in 1921. This play later became the musical Carousel. In 1924, Digges helped start the Maverick Theater in Woodstock, New York. He was also the artistic director for a theatre company. This company included well-known actors like Helen Hayes and Edward G. Robinson.

Digges began acting in films around 1929. Over almost 20 years, he appeared in more than 50 movies. One of his notable roles was Casper Gutman in The Maltese Falcon (1931). He also played the Chief Detective in The Invisible Man (1933). In this film, he tried to catch the unseen main character. Digges also directed plays on Broadway.

Personal Life and Final Years

Dudley Digges married only once. His wife was the Irish actress Maire Quinn. They got married on August 27, 1907, in New York City. They stayed together until Maire passed away in August 1947.

Just two months after his wife's death, Digges also passed away. He died from a stroke on October 24, 1947. He was in his apartment in Manhattan, New York. He had three siblings living in Ireland. After a church service, he was buried next to his wife. They rest at Gate of Heaven Cemetery in Hawthorne, New York.

Partial Filmography