George MacFarlane (November 17, 1878 â€" February 22, 1932) was a
Canadian-born American actor of both the stage and screen. He began
his stage career in Montreal, before moving to New York City. His
short film career spanned both the silent and sound film eras. In
addition to his acting, he was also a well-known recording artist, who
was very popular during World War I, including at least one song which
reached number one on the charts in 1915. His career was cut short
when he died in an accident in 1932.MacFarlane was born in Kingston,
Ontario on November 17, 1878. He had six older siblings, and was the
son of Alice Gentle (not to be confused with Alice Gentle, opera
singer), who was also a musical theatrical performer. The turn of the
century would see him appearing in musicals in Montreal, eventually
leading to him being cast in 1902 in the role of Captain Corcoran in
the Gilbert and Sullivan light opera HMS Pinafore. By 1903 he was in
New York City, where he had a starring role in the musical comedy The
Fisher Maiden at the Victoria Theater.Between 1903 and 1928 he would
appear in over two dozen Broadway productions, including musical
comedies, straight plays, and operettas, including several stints as
Corcoran in HMS Pinafore. In 1907 he would appear in the play The Girl
and the Bandit, the most notable fact of which is where he would meet
his second wife, Viola Gillette; the two would marry on April 10,
1920. The two would appear in several plays together, including
MacFarlane's first big success, 1909's The Beauty Spot. 1913 would see
the beginning of his recording relationship with Victor Records, which
would last until 1917. In 1918, he would switch to Columbia Records,
where he would record four records, all in that year. He would return
to Victor in the early 1920s, where he would make several more
records. He would earn the nickname of "America's Favorite Baritone".
Canadian-born American actor of both the stage and screen. He began
his stage career in Montreal, before moving to New York City. His
short film career spanned both the silent and sound film eras. In
addition to his acting, he was also a well-known recording artist, who
was very popular during World War I, including at least one song which
reached number one on the charts in 1915. His career was cut short
when he died in an accident in 1932.MacFarlane was born in Kingston,
Ontario on November 17, 1878. He had six older siblings, and was the
son of Alice Gentle (not to be confused with Alice Gentle, opera
singer), who was also a musical theatrical performer. The turn of the
century would see him appearing in musicals in Montreal, eventually
leading to him being cast in 1902 in the role of Captain Corcoran in
the Gilbert and Sullivan light opera HMS Pinafore. By 1903 he was in
New York City, where he had a starring role in the musical comedy The
Fisher Maiden at the Victoria Theater.Between 1903 and 1928 he would
appear in over two dozen Broadway productions, including musical
comedies, straight plays, and operettas, including several stints as
Corcoran in HMS Pinafore. In 1907 he would appear in the play The Girl
and the Bandit, the most notable fact of which is where he would meet
his second wife, Viola Gillette; the two would marry on April 10,
1920. The two would appear in several plays together, including
MacFarlane's first big success, 1909's The Beauty Spot. 1913 would see
the beginning of his recording relationship with Victor Records, which
would last until 1917. In 1918, he would switch to Columbia Records,
where he would record four records, all in that year. He would return
to Victor in the early 1920s, where he would make several more
records. He would earn the nickname of "America's Favorite Baritone".
Share this
SUBSCRIBE OUR NEWSLETTER
SUBSCRIBE OUR NEWSLETTER
Join us for free and get valuable content delivered right through your inbox.