Clarence Charles William Henry Richard Bennett (May 21, 1870 â€"
October 22, 1944) was an American actor who became a stage and silent
screen actor over the early decades of the 20th century. He was the
father of actresses Constance Bennett, Barbara Bennett and Joan
Bennett with actress Adrienne Morrison, his second wife.Bennett was
born in Deer Creek Township, Cass County, Indiana, in May 1870.[a]
Called Clarence until he was 10, he was the eldest child of George
Washington Bennett and Eliza Leonora Bennett.:8 His younger sister was
Ina Blanche Bennett. For a time, he was a sailor on Great Lakes
steamer, a professional boxer, medicine showman, troubadour and night
clerk in a hotel in Chicago. Bennett made his stage debut on May 10,
1891, in Chicago, in The Limited Mail.:15 He went to New York City,
where his Broadway debut was in His Excellency the Governor (1899),
which was produced by Charles Frohman. In his third Broadway
production, he played the role of Father Anselm in Frohman's
production of A Royal Family (1901â€"02).Bennett was married to Grena
Heller in 1901 in San Francisco. They soon separated and were divorced
in 1903. Using her married name, she starred in a few plays on
Broadway and went on to a successful career as a music critic for
Hearst's New York American.On November 8, 1903, Bennett and actress
Adrienne Morrison were married in Jersey City. They had three
daughters, all notable actresses: Constance Bennett, Barbara Bennett
and Joan Bennett.
October 22, 1944) was an American actor who became a stage and silent
screen actor over the early decades of the 20th century. He was the
father of actresses Constance Bennett, Barbara Bennett and Joan
Bennett with actress Adrienne Morrison, his second wife.Bennett was
born in Deer Creek Township, Cass County, Indiana, in May 1870.[a]
Called Clarence until he was 10, he was the eldest child of George
Washington Bennett and Eliza Leonora Bennett.:8 His younger sister was
Ina Blanche Bennett. For a time, he was a sailor on Great Lakes
steamer, a professional boxer, medicine showman, troubadour and night
clerk in a hotel in Chicago. Bennett made his stage debut on May 10,
1891, in Chicago, in The Limited Mail.:15 He went to New York City,
where his Broadway debut was in His Excellency the Governor (1899),
which was produced by Charles Frohman. In his third Broadway
production, he played the role of Father Anselm in Frohman's
production of A Royal Family (1901â€"02).Bennett was married to Grena
Heller in 1901 in San Francisco. They soon separated and were divorced
in 1903. Using her married name, she starred in a few plays on
Broadway and went on to a successful career as a music critic for
Hearst's New York American.On November 8, 1903, Bennett and actress
Adrienne Morrison were married in Jersey City. They had three
daughters, all notable actresses: Constance Bennett, Barbara Bennett
and Joan Bennett.
Share this
SUBSCRIBE OUR NEWSLETTER
SUBSCRIBE OUR NEWSLETTER
Join us for free and get valuable content delivered right through your inbox.