Sullivan, Barry

ACTOR, THEATRE MANAGER (IRELAND)
BORN 5 Jul 1821, Birmingham, Warwickshire: Howard's Place - DIED 3 May 1891
BIRTH NAME Sullivan, Thomas Barry
GRAVE LOCATION Dublin: Glasnevin Cemetery

Barry Sullivan was born in Birmingham but his parents were both Irish. They came from Cork and they died when he was eight years old. He grew up with his grandfather in Bristol. He was put to work at a lawyer's office when he was fourteen but he saw William MacReady in Macbath and he decided he wanted to be an actor.

In 1837 he joined na acting company and he held an engagement in Cork. Later that year he moved to Edinburgh to join Murray's stock company. On 4 July 1842 he married Mary Amory. She was the daughter of a lieutenant in the army and they had five children. By 1844 he played leading parts in "The Merchant of Venice" and "The Taming of the Shrew".

In Glasgow he stood on the stage with Gustavus Vaughan Brooke and he appeared on many stages in the provinces of Scotland and England. In 1852 he was Hamlet at the Haymarket in London. In 1858 he went to the USA where he played shakespeare parts in New York. In 1860 he returned to London and in 1862 he went to Australia. He lived in Melbourne for four years, working as an actor as well as a manager.

In 1866 he was back in London once more and from 1868 to 1870 he was the manager of the Holborn Theatre. During the next twenty years he continued performing. On 4 Jun 1887 he appeared on the stage for the last time, playing Hamlet in Liverpool. His health was detoriating and he died in 1891. He was buried in Dublin where he had been very popular.

Related persons
• cooperated with Faucit, Helena Saville

Images

The grave of Barry Sullivan at Glasnevin Cemetery, Dublin.
Picture by Androom (19 Aug 2016)

 

Sources
Find-A-Grave
Barry Sullivan (English actor) - Wikipedia


Summers, Montague

Published: 25 Sep 2016
Last update: 20 Apr 2022