John Moody (actor) facts for kids
John Moody (1727?–1812), whose real name was John Cochran, was a famous Irish actor. He was known for playing many different characters on stage.
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Early Life and First Steps in Acting
John Moody was born around 1727. His father was a hairdresser named Cochran. John was born in Cork, Ireland, and first followed his father's job. However, he later said he was born in London.
Around 1745, during a time of conflict called the Jacobite rising of 1745, John went to Jamaica. He might have done this to avoid being forced to join the army. In Jamaica, he gained some acting experience.
When he returned to England, he changed his name to Moody. He had some money and continued acting. He started performing in different towns around Norwich, playing the main characters in both serious and funny plays.
Becoming a Star on the London Stage
In 1759, a famous theater manager named David Garrick hired Moody to act at the Drury Lane Theatre in London. On October 31, 1759, Moody played the first Kingston in a play called High Life Below Stairs.
He became very well-known for playing Sir Callaghan O'Brallaghan in Charles Macklin's play Love à la Mode on February 12, 1760. This was one of his most important roles.
Famous Roles
Moody mostly stayed at Drury Lane Theatre for his whole acting career, except for one season at the Haymarket Theatre. He often played Irish characters, which became his specialty. For example, he played Teague in The Committee and Major O'Flaherty in The West Indian.
He also played a Scottish servant named Colin MacLeod in The Fashionable Lover. But he often returned to playing Irish characters, like Sir Patrick O'Neale in The Irish Widow.
Acting in Other Towns
During the summers, Moody also acted in other towns, like Liverpool. In these places, he took on even bigger and more challenging roles. He played characters like the King in First Part of King Henry IV, Iago, and Shylock. These are all very famous roles from William Shakespeare's plays.
Later Years and Retirement
After the 1795–96 theater season, Moody's performances were not as strong as they used to be. The theater management decided not to hire him again, and he retired from acting.
However, he did return to the stage one last time on June 26, 1804. He played Jobson in The Devil to Pay at Covent Garden, to help raise money for the Bayswater Hospital.
Moody retired to Barnes Common and became a market gardener, growing and selling vegetables. He passed away on December 26, 1812. Some reports say he died in Shepherd's Bush, while others say it was in Leicester Square.
He wanted to be buried in St. Clement's burial-ground in London. He also wished for his gravestone to say, "A native of this parish, and an an old member of Drury Lane Theatre." However, the graveyard was full. So, he was buried in the churchyard at Barnes, next to his first wife. His first wife had died on May 12, 1805, at 88 years old. His second wife, Kitty Ann Moody, lived until October 29, 1846, and was 83 when she died.
