Sydney Deane

Sydney Leslie Deane (1 March 1863 – 20 March 1934 ) was a first-class cricketer and entertainer, who later appeared in Hollywood movies. Along with his cousins, Australian Test captain Billy Murdoch and Norman Deane, who played first-class cricket for New South Wales, Deane also excelled in cricket, and made his first-class debut for New South Wales, against Victoria, at the Association Ground, Sydney on 25 January 1890. A wicket-keeper, Deane held six catches, at that time an Australian first-class record However, the Victorian members of the squad protested against Deane's inclusion, arguing that it was favouritism towards New South Wales. Victorian wicket keeper Jack Blackham, a key member of the Australian side, went as far as to threaten to boycott the tour if Deane was selected ahead of fellow Victorian Jack Harry. although Burn had never kept wicket in his life. Deane also moved into theatre production management, co-founding and managing the Elite Vaudeville Company, which ran a number of productions starring Deane, including a farce based on Trilby entitled Trill-B!, in which Deane played the character of Sven-Garlic.

Deane married Maggie Melrose, an actress in Melbourne comic opera, in 1891. She died in New York in 1922.

Deane continued to play cricket in Melbourne, and although unable to break into the Victorian side, due to the presence of Blackham, Deane represented East Melbourne against an English touring side in 1892.

In the United States Deane left Australia for the United States of America in the late 1890s, where he soon became a leading Vaudeville entertainer, appearing on Broadway musicals, including the original cast of Florodora, which ran for 553 performances, The Woggle-Bug (based on The Wonderful Wizard of Oz),

Impressed by his acting ability, Jesse L. Lasky recruited Deane to join the Jesse L. Lasky Feature Play Company, which relocated to Hollywood to produce films. Deane made his film debut in 1914 in the original version of Brewster's Millions, which was Cecil B. DeMille's second film. Deane appeared in a number of DeMille's early films before signing a contract with Universal Pictures, where he appeared in movies alongside Lon Chaney Sr.

While acting, Deane continued to play cricket, firstly in New York for the "New York Veterans" and later in California, where he played into his late fifties.

Deane's final film appearance was in the 1924 film America, directed by D.W. Griffith, after which he retired to New York, where he died, aged 71. Unusually for an actor and cricketer of his significance, neither Variety nor Wisden ran his obituary.

Filmography

Title Year Role Notes Brewster's Millions 1914 Jonas Sedgwick The Call of the North 1914 McTavish The Virginian 1914 Uncle Hughey The Making of Bobby Burnit 1914 Silas Trimmer aka Bobby Burnit What's His Name 1914 Uncle Peter Ready Money 1914 Owner of the Skyrocket Rose of the Rancho 1914 Ranch Owner The Girl of the Golden West 1915 Sidney Duck The Goose Girl 1915 Prince Regent of Jugendheit The Warrens of Virginia 1915 General Harding A Gentleman of Leisure 1915 Sir Thomas Blunt Stolen Goods 1915 Mr. North The Arab 1915 Dr. Hilbert The Secret Orchard 1915 Nanette's father The Scarlet Chastity 1916 Playthings of the Gods 1916 The Evil Women Do 1916 Malgat/Papa Ravinet Billed as "Sydney Dean". The film was also known as The Clique of Gold. Melting Millions 1917 Uncle Peter The Grip of Love 1917 The Field of Honor 1917 Poole Billed as "Sidney Deane". A Doll's House 1917 Dr. Rank The Gray Ghost 1917 The Reed Case 1917 John Reed Billed as "Sydney Dean". Sirens of the Sea 1917 Wellington Stanhope Released as Darlings of the Gods in the United Kingdom. Beloved Jim 1917 Lawrence Darcy The Wife He Bought 1918 James Brierson The Midnight Trail 1918 Reverend Robert Moreland Breakers Ahead 1918 Hiram Hawley No Man's Land 1918 The Lure of the Circus 1918 Reynolds Billed as "Sidney Deane". A Man and His Money 1919 John Sturgeon The Crimson Gardenia 1919 Papa la Forge Billed as "Sidney Deane". Male and Female 1919 Thomas The Midlanders 1920 Judge Van Hart Treasure Island 1920 Squire Trelawney The Strange Boarder 1920 Dawson Once a Plumber 1920 Fenelon Billed as "Sidney Deane". The Last of the Mohicans 1920 General Webb Find the Woman 1922 Sofford Missing Millions 1922 Donald Gordon Her Own Story 1922 The Broken Violin 1923 Dr. Mason America 1924 Sir Ashley Montague Released as Love and Sacrifice in the UK.