Famous 19th Century Comedians

Marie Dressler was a Canadian comedian and actress. A major film star during the Depression-era, Dressler received the 1931 Academy Award for Best Actress for her portrayal of Min Divot in the 1930 American comedy-drama film, Min and Bill. Her life and career inspired a play titled Queen Marie, which was written by Shirley Barrie.

French comedian, filmmaker, and screenwriter of the silent-film era, Gabriel Leuvielle, better known as Max Linder, is remembered as the world’s first movie star. He is known to have influenced Charlie Chaplin. He also created his iconic character Max, beginning with The Skater's Debut, and played it in several comedies later.

Lotta Crabtree was an entertainer, actress, and comedian who became one of the most beloved and wealthiest American entertainers during the late-19th century. She was also a well-known philanthropist; she left an estate worth $4 million for a charitable trust as part of her will. Dubbed The Nation's Darling, Lotta Crabtree's life and career inspired the 1951 film Golden Girl. 

Though trained in dance and the piano, Patricia Collinge later found her calling in acting. The Irish-American actor is best remembered for her iconic roles such as Lavinia Penniman in The Heiress. Her performance as Aunt Birdie in the film The Little Foxes later got her nominated for an Academy Award.

Tyrone Power was a patriarch of one of the most well-known Irish acting families and the great-grandfather of romantic matinee idol Tyrone Power III. He ran away to take up acting at age 14 and later popularized the stage Irishman stock character with his performance as Looney Mactwolter in The Wag of Windsor.

French writer Alphonse Allais, also a journalist and humorist, wrote many collections of whimsical writings. He is known for writing the earliest example of a completely silent musical composition. The small house where he was born was later turned into a museum named Alphonse Allais Museum. The Académie Alphonse-Allais has been awarding an annual prize in his honor since 1954.

Ada Rehan became a sensation in 19th-century America with her performances in Shakespearean and European comedies. She was part of the Big Four that performed under theater manager Augustin Daly and worked him for 2 decades. Katherine in The Taming of the Shrew remains one of her best-known roles.

Joe Weber was a vaudeville performer who formed the popular comedy duo of Weber and Fields along with his colleague Lew Fields. Joe Weber and Lew Fields managed to achieve popularity despite having personal differences in real life. The backstage hostility portrayed in Neil Simon's film and play The Sunshine Boys is possibly based on Weber and Fields.