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.
He was married twice—to Florence Meagher Gleason Pope in 1910, and second to stage actress Virginia O'Brien(1896-?)American and British Theatrical Biography p.710 by J. P. Wearing c.1979 ISBN 0-8108-1201-0 (not to be confused with the film actress born 1919). He and O'Brien had one daughter, Denise.Great Stars of the American Stage (Profile #72) by Daniel C. Blum c. 1952 (reprint 1954)
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
See also List of people of Newfoundland and Labrador
References
Further reading Donald Brian: the king of Broadway by Charles Foster (2005) External links
Who's Who in Musicals Donald Brian University of Washington, Sayre collection Donald Brian NY Public Library, Billy Rose collection Mrs. Donald Brian (Florence Gleason Brian) with Eugene Walter and Charlotte Walker