William DeWolf Hopper (March 30, 1858 â€" September 23, 1935) was an
American actor, singer, comedian, and theatrical producer. A star of
vaudeville and musical theater, he became best known for performing
the popular baseball poem "Casey at the Bat".Hopper was born William
D'Wolf Hopper:5 in New York City, the son of John Hopper (born 1815)
and Rosalie D'Wolf (born 1827). His father was a wealthy Quaker lawyer
and his mother came from a noted Colonial family. His paternal
grandfather Isaac Hopper was a Philadelphia Quaker, and conductor of
the Philadelphia station of the Underground Railroad. Though his
parents intended that he become a lawyer, Hopper did not enjoy that
profession.:10 Hopper was called Willie as a child, and then Will or
Wolfie, but when he set out on an acting career he chose his more
distinguished middle name as his stage name. It was modified to
"DeWolf" because of the frequency that it was mispronounced
"Dwolf".:9â€"10He made his stage debut in New Haven, Connecticut,
October 2, 1878. Originally, he wanted to be a serious actor, but at
6' 5" (196 cm) and 230 pounds, he was too large for most dramatic
roles. He had a loud bass singing voice, however, and made his mark in
musicals, beginning in Harrigan and Hart's company. He achieved the
status of leading man in The Black Hussar (1885) and appeared in the
hit Erminie in 1887. Eventually, he starred in more than thirty
Broadway musicals, including Castles in the Air (1890), Wang (1891),
Panjandrum (1893), and John Philip Sousa's El Capitan (1896). The role
that he remembered with greatest pleasure was Old Bill in The Better
'Ole (1919).Known for his comic talents, Hopper popularized many comic
songs and appeared in a number of Gilbert and Sullivan comic "patter"
roles from 1911 to 1915, including The Mikado, Patience, and H.M.S.
Pinafore.
American actor, singer, comedian, and theatrical producer. A star of
vaudeville and musical theater, he became best known for performing
the popular baseball poem "Casey at the Bat".Hopper was born William
D'Wolf Hopper:5 in New York City, the son of John Hopper (born 1815)
and Rosalie D'Wolf (born 1827). His father was a wealthy Quaker lawyer
and his mother came from a noted Colonial family. His paternal
grandfather Isaac Hopper was a Philadelphia Quaker, and conductor of
the Philadelphia station of the Underground Railroad. Though his
parents intended that he become a lawyer, Hopper did not enjoy that
profession.:10 Hopper was called Willie as a child, and then Will or
Wolfie, but when he set out on an acting career he chose his more
distinguished middle name as his stage name. It was modified to
"DeWolf" because of the frequency that it was mispronounced
"Dwolf".:9â€"10He made his stage debut in New Haven, Connecticut,
October 2, 1878. Originally, he wanted to be a serious actor, but at
6' 5" (196 cm) and 230 pounds, he was too large for most dramatic
roles. He had a loud bass singing voice, however, and made his mark in
musicals, beginning in Harrigan and Hart's company. He achieved the
status of leading man in The Black Hussar (1885) and appeared in the
hit Erminie in 1887. Eventually, he starred in more than thirty
Broadway musicals, including Castles in the Air (1890), Wang (1891),
Panjandrum (1893), and John Philip Sousa's El Capitan (1896). The role
that he remembered with greatest pleasure was Old Bill in The Better
'Ole (1919).Known for his comic talents, Hopper popularized many comic
songs and appeared in a number of Gilbert and Sullivan comic "patter"
roles from 1911 to 1915, including The Mikado, Patience, and H.M.S.
Pinafore.
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