William Faversham(1868-1940)

William Faversham was born in London on February 12, 1868. After attending Hill-Martin College, he served for a short time in a cavalry regiment in Warwickshire. He made his stage debut on November 19, 1885, in a London vaudeville theater. Two years later, he came to New York, making his American debut on January 17, 1887, in "Pen and Ink." In 1893, he joined Charles Frohman's Empire Theatre Company and remained with the group for eight years. On August 19, 1901, he received star billing, playing Don Caesar in "A Royal Rival." His status rose, and during 1905-1907, he toured the United States in "The Squaw Man," which earned him a small fortune. He later appeared in many Shakespearean productions, playing Romeo opposite Maude Adams as Juliet. He made a handful of silent films, but with the advent of younger actors, his status as a matinee idol slowly faded. On July 20, 1925, Faversham married his third wife, Edith Campbell, at his estate in Huntington, Long Island. But in 1927, he filed for bankruptcy, and despite several attempts to recoup his previous fortunes, he never succeeded, although he did continue to work. In 1929, he toured in Australia, appearing in several plays. In 1931 he joined the Chicago Civic Shakespeare Society, appearing in such plays as "Hamlet" and "The Merchant of Venice." He founded a drama school in 1932, but it was short-lived. Faversham's final stage appearance was in 1934, as Jeeter Lester in "Tobacco Road." That same year, he returned to Hollywood, appearing in a few films before retiring in 1937. He then entered the Percy C. Williams home, a retreat on Long Island for aged actors. Ironically, the home was not far from Faversham's former estate. Faversham insisted he work for his keep, so he tended a garden. He died of a coronary embolism on April 7, 1940. He was buried in the Huntington Rural Cemetery in Bay Shore, next to his second wife, Julie Opp. Faversham's first wife was Marian Merwin. He had two sons with Julie Opp: Philip, an actor, and William Jr.