Jack Cruise (15 August 1915 â€" 4 May 1979) was a famous Irish
comedian & actor who performed in and wrote many shows in the Royal
and Olympia theatres in Dublin.Born in Phibsboro, Dublin to Michael
Cruise (b. Colchester, Essex 1865) & Brigid O’Kelly (b. Tralee, Co.
Kerry 1880). He attended St. Vincent's C.B.S. Glasnevin. Leaving
secondary school in 1933 he joined the well-known Dublin bakers, Peter
Kennedy & Sons as a trainee ledger clerk. He had been interested in
acting and drama from an early age and he joined the A.O.H. Players in
1934 and played with many of the leading amateur drama groups in the
city in the following years. In 1936 while performing in the pantomime
‘Jack & the Beanstalk’ with the Fr. Matthew Players he created
what was to become one of his favourite characters â€" John Joe
Mahockey from Ballyslapdashamuckery â€" an astute countryman or
Culchie to use the Dublin expression, who wore a flat cap with an
enormous peak, navy blue suit, white shirt, red tie and a large pair
of brown hobnailed boots.Jack was a first cousin of the Irish portrait
painter Leo Whelan.He performed initially in the Queens Theater and
while appearing there he was recommended to Noel Purcell, then a
Theatre Royal star. Shortly afterwards he began performing and writing
scripts for the weekly variety shows the Royal was renowned for.
comedian & actor who performed in and wrote many shows in the Royal
and Olympia theatres in Dublin.Born in Phibsboro, Dublin to Michael
Cruise (b. Colchester, Essex 1865) & Brigid O’Kelly (b. Tralee, Co.
Kerry 1880). He attended St. Vincent's C.B.S. Glasnevin. Leaving
secondary school in 1933 he joined the well-known Dublin bakers, Peter
Kennedy & Sons as a trainee ledger clerk. He had been interested in
acting and drama from an early age and he joined the A.O.H. Players in
1934 and played with many of the leading amateur drama groups in the
city in the following years. In 1936 while performing in the pantomime
‘Jack & the Beanstalk’ with the Fr. Matthew Players he created
what was to become one of his favourite characters â€" John Joe
Mahockey from Ballyslapdashamuckery â€" an astute countryman or
Culchie to use the Dublin expression, who wore a flat cap with an
enormous peak, navy blue suit, white shirt, red tie and a large pair
of brown hobnailed boots.Jack was a first cousin of the Irish portrait
painter Leo Whelan.He performed initially in the Queens Theater and
while appearing there he was recommended to Noel Purcell, then a
Theatre Royal star. Shortly afterwards he began performing and writing
scripts for the weekly variety shows the Royal was renowned for.
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