Donald Brian

Donald Brian (February 17, 1877 – December 22, 1948) was an actor, dancer and singer born in St. John's, Newfoundland (now Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada). In 1907, he starred in the hit operetta The Merry Widow.

Life and career Brian, a tenor, was employed in a Boston machine shop and, at the age of 16, began performing with a vocal quartet. When he joined a theatrical troupe in New York City, he was soon in demand as a leading man. He had leading roles in more than 20 Broadway musicals. In 1915 Brian signed with film producer Jesse L. Lasky to do two films, The Voice in the Fog (1915) and The Smugglers (1916). After the latter he made no more film appearances until the sound era. His first sound film was an excerpt of his role in Peggy O'Hooligan (1925), made in the DeForest Phonofilm sound-on-film process.

Brian was president of the Catholic Actors Guild of America. and second to stage actress Virginia O'Brien(1896-?) (not to be confused with the film actress born 1919). He and O'Brien had one daughter, Denise.

Brian died on December 22, 1948, in Great Neck, New York, aged 73.

Selected Broadway musicals and operettas

1899 – On the Wabash 1902 – Florodora 1904 – Little Johnny Jones 1906 – Forty-five Minutes from Broadway 1907 – The Merry Widow 1909 – The Dollar Princess 1911 – The Siren 1913 - The Marriage Market 1914 – The Girl From Utah 1916 – Sybil 1918 – The Girl Behind the Gun 1919 – Buddies 1921 – The Chocolate Soldier 1922 – Up She Goes 1925 – Peggy O'Hooligan 1926 – No, No, Nanette 1939 – Very Warm for May