Irene Bentley

Irene Bentley (1870 – June 3, 1940) was an American stage actress and vocalist. A native of Baltimore, Maryland, she made her stage debut in 1894 as Sally Vation in the musical New Dazzler. She had a prominent career in Broadway musicals from her debut on the New York stage in 1895 until her retirement 15 years laters. She also performed in London's West End during that period. Her second marriage was to librettist Harry B. Smith.

Biography The daughter of William H. Bentley and Alexina Mabee Bentley, Prior to her professional stage career she married her first husband, J. T. Sothoron, She began her stage career in 1894 as Sally Vation in the touring show New Dazzler. Her New York debut came in April 1895 when she performed in Little Christopher in Palmer's Theatre in New York. She made her London debut in 1898 at the Shaftesbury Theatre as Gladys Glee in The Belle of New York.

At the Knickerbocker Theatre Bentley performed in The Strollers (1901, as Bertha) and The Wild Rose (1902, as Rose Romany). In the latter musical she performed with Marie Cahill whom she also appeared with in Sally in Our Alley. In 1903-1904 Bentley portrayed Kitty Calvert in The Girl from Dixie at Hoyt's Theatre. In 1906-1907 she performed the role of H.S.H. Princess Carl of Ehbreneitstein in The Belle of Mayfair at Daly's Theatre. Her other performance credits included It Happened in Nordland. She retired from the stage in 1910. She died at her home in Allenhurst, New Jersey, on June 3, 1940, aged 70.