John Drew Sr. facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
John Drew
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| Born |
Jonathan Henry Drewland
September 3, 1827 Dublin, Ireland
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| Died | May 21, 1862 (aged 34) Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, U.S.
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| Resting place | Mount Vernon Cemetery |
| Spouse(s) |
Louisa Lane Drew
(m. 1850) |
| Children | Louisa Drew John Drew Jr. Georgiana Drew |
John Drew (born September 3, 1827 – died May 21, 1862) was a well-known Irish-American stage actor and theatre manager. He was famous for his acting skills and for running a theatre.
Early Life and Moving to America
John Drew was born as Jonathan Henry Drewland in Dublin, Ireland. He was one of six children in his family. When he was just five years old, in 1832, his family moved to the United States. They settled in Boston, Massachusetts. John spent most of his childhood in Boston, where he began his acting journey. His younger brother, Frank Drew, also became an actor.
Becoming a Star Actor
After moving to the United States, John Drew started working for a theatre company. This company was run by Joseph J. Johlen, who was a theatre manager. John acted in many of Johlen's plays, including Uncle Mutch and The Barber Man.
John Drew performed for the first time in New York in 1846. He was very good at playing Irish characters and funny roles in comedies. He became successful in many American cities. Later, he became the manager of the Arch Street Theatre in Philadelphia.
Family Life and Legacy
In 1848, John married Louisa Lane Drew. This was John's first marriage. John and Louisa had three children: Louisa, John Jr., and Georgiana. John Jr. and Georgiana both grew up to be famous actors, just like their parents.
Georgiana married another actor named Maurice Barrymore in 1876. Their family became known as the Barrymore family, a very famous acting family. This means John Drew is the great-great-grandfather of the modern actress Drew Barrymore.
John Drew died suddenly at the young age of 34 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, due to an accident. He was first buried in Glenwood Cemetery, but his remains were later moved to Mount Vernon Cemetery. After John's death, his wife Louisa took over running the Arch Street Theatre. The theatre continued to operate until it was taken down in 1936.]]
