Rankin

Rankin, [Arthur] MCKEE (1841–1914), actor. The slim, handsome leading man, who grew somewhat portly with time, was born in Sandwich, Canada, and began his acting career in 1861 in Rochester, New York, using the name of George Henley. After spending several seasons in London, he returned to make his New York debut in 1866 as Hugh de Brass in A Regular Fix. In 1872 he became a leading man at the Union Square Theatre, where his roles included Phyllon in W. S. Gilbert's The Wicked World (1873), George de Lesparre in Led Astray (1873), Armand in Camille (1874), and Jacques Frochard in The Two Orphans (1874). His greatest success came when he produced and starred as Alexander McGee in The Danites (1877). Rankin returned to the play frequently for the next dozen years. Later he appeared in a variety of plays from popular contemporary melodrama to classic comedy. He also was active as a producer and theatre manager. In his last years he toured with his protégé Nance O'Neill.