Harry Beresford

Henry William Walter Horseley Beresford (4 November 1863 – 4 October 1944) was an English-born actor on the American stage and in motion pictures. He used the professional name Harry J. Morgan early in his career.

Career Harry Beresford began his acting career in 1885, as a member of the chorus of Little Jack Sheppard at the Gaiety Theatre, London. After moving to the United States in 1886, he performed throughout the country in repertory theatre and with various touring companies—including his own—for the next 30 years. His first major Broadway theatre success was in 1919, in Boys Will Be Boys, which was soon followed by a starring role in Shavings (1920). In August 1922, he created the role of the alcoholic Clem Hawley in Don Marquis's comedy The Old Soak, a character Beresford made famous and played for two years. He won praise for his character performances in the Broadway productions of Stolen Fruit (1925) and The Perfect Alibi (1928). His professional name was Harry J. Morgan at the time of his first marriage, to actress Emma Dunn, on 4 October 1897, in Chicago. They divorced on 10 February 1909, in New York City, and Dunn was awarded sole custody of their young daughter, Dorothy. Beresford married actress Edith D. Wylie, who had appeared opposite him in the play, The Other House. They were married for the remainder of his life. In 1936, columnist Jimmie Fidler reported that Beresford, then aged 72, had collapsed while working on an RKO Pictures soundstage. Unconscious for two hours, he was cared for by Dunn, who happened to be working on a set nearby.

Theatre credits Theatrical poster for Harry Beresford in Our New Man (c. 1904) Date Title Role Notes December 1885 – Little Jack Sheppard Chorus member Gaiety Theatre, London; debut November 1893 – Walker, London Andrew McPhail National tour including several weeks at the Grand Opera House, Chicago 30 November – 6 December 1902 The Wrong Mr. Wright Mr. Sites National tour beginning at Morosco's Burbank Theatre, Los Angeles 13 October – November 1919 Boys Will Be Boys Peep O'Day Belmont Theatre, New York City 16 February – June 1920 Shavings J. Edward Winslow Knickerbocker Theatre, New York City 22 August 1922 – August 1923 The Old Soak Clem Hawley Plymouth Theatre, New York City June 1924 She Stoops to Conquer Aminadab Empire Theatre, New York City 1924 Out-a-Luck Touring production February 3 – February 1925 The Undercurrent Jason Mills Cort Theatre, New York City 7 October – December 1925 Stolen Fruit Ballou Eltinge 42nd Street Theatre, New York City 27 November 1928 – July 1929 The Perfect Alibi P. C. Ballet Charles Hopkins Theatre, New York City 3 December 1929 – July 1930 Michael and Mary P. C. Tuff Charles Hopkins Theatre, New York City

Filmography

Year Title Role Notes 1926 Elmer Stone Film debut 1931 Charlie Chan Carries On Kent