Wilton Lackaye

Lackaye, Wilton (1862–1932), actor. Born in Loudon County, Virginia, and educated at Georgetown University, he was barely out of college when he made his debut as Lucentio opposite Lawrence Barrett in an 1883 revival of Francesca da Rimini. Afterward he played important roles in support of Fanny Davenport and other stars. Among his most significant early assignments were the revolutionary Gouroc in Paul Kauvar (1887) and the thieving twin brother Robert in Allan Dare (1887). Lackaye was seen in Featherbrain (1889), Shenandoah (1889), Money Mad (1890), The Power of the Press (1891), and Aristocracy (1892) before playing his most famous role, the villainous Svengali in Trilby (1895). In 1898 he was Sir Lucius O'Trigger in Joseph Jefferson's revival of The Rivals, then played leading roles in, among others, The Children of the Ghetto (1899), Don Caesar's Return (1901), Colorado (1901), A Modern Magdalen (1902), and The Frisky Mrs. Johnson (1903). In 1904 he produced and starred in a much‐praised version of The Pillars of Society. He continued to appear both in new plays and revivals, especially of Trilby, until shortly before his death. Lackaye had a pleasant, round face, with large eyes, and for many years sported a prominent handlebar moustache.