Evans, Maurice, 1901-1989

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British actor.

From the description of Papers, [ca. 1935-1965]. (Unknown). WorldCat record id: 155508027

Maurice Evans, a Shakespearean actor and producer with a prominent Broadway career, was born in Dorchester, England on June 3, 1901.

After making his American debut opposite Katharine Cornell in ROMEO AND JULIET (1935), he went on to found his own repertory company, which primarily distinguished itself in the 1940's and 1950's for its Shakespeare and Shaw productions, both on Broadway and national tour. In the 1960's Mr. Evans achieved nationwide popularity for his television and film appearances. He died on March 12, 1989 in Brighton, England.

From the description of Maurice Evans papers, 1934-1970. (New York Public Library). WorldCat record id: 122687024

Maurice Evans, a Shakespearean actor and producer with a prominent Broadway career, was born in Dorchester, England on June 3, 1901.

After making his American debut opposite Katharine Cornell in ROMEO AND JULIET (1935), he went on to found his own repertory company, which primarily distinguished itself in the 1940's and 1950's for its Shakespeare and Shaw productions, both on Broadway and national tour. In the 1960's Mr. Evans achieved nationwide popularity for his television and film appearances. He died on March 12, 1989 in Brighton, England.

From the description of Papers and sound recordings, 1934-1970. (New York Public Library). WorldCat record id: 122571084

Maurice Evans, the actor-manager noted for his American classical productions, was born in Dorchester, England on June 3, 1901. He made his professional debut as Orestes in The Oresteia in Cambridge in 1926. After a succession of walk-on roles in the West End in the late 1920s, he joined the Old Vic Company in 1934, appearing in Antony and Cleopatra, Much Ado About Nothing and Shaw's Saint Joan . He received the notice of Katharine Cornell, who invited him to play the role of Romeo with her in Romeo and Juliet on Broadway in 1935. The following year he portrayed the Dauphin to her Joan in Saint Joan .

Mr. Evans began his series of Shakespearean triumphs with his appearance in the title role of King Richard II, which established him as a major performer in 1937. He returned in Margaret Webster's production of Hamlet, the first full-length version to be presented in the modern American theatre. Branching out into comedy from romantic leads, Maurice Evans played Falstaff in the revival of Henry IV, Part I and Malvolio in Twelfth Night . In 1941 he starred with Judith Anderson in Macbeth .

After obtaining American citizenship, Mr. Evans enlisted in the U.S. Army, where he was promoted to major and put in charge of entertainment in the Central Pacific arena. Most notable from this period was his G.I. Hamlet, a special cutting of the text for soldier audiences, which he performed in New York after the war and took on national tour.

Upon his return, Mr. Evans primarily distinguished himself in Shavian productions, staging and appearing in Man and Superman in 1947 and The Devil's Disciple in 1951. Ever expanding his repertoire, he starred in the commercial thriller, Dial “M” for Murder, in 1952, and had a singing role in George Abbott's Tenderloin in 1960.

During the 1950's Evans' expanded his production empire by creating industrial shows under the auspices of his company, Maurice Evans Industrials, Inc. This was short-lived and lasted until 1959. He created the industrial show Motorola for General Motors Corporation and this traveled from New York to Boston and Canada.

In the 1960s Maurice Evans brought his craft to mass media, where he received exposure for both classical and commercial work. The Hallmark Hall of Fame aired a series of his Shakespearean productions. His name became a household word with his role as Elizabeth Montgomery's warlock father on Bewitched . He was also seen in many films including Planet of the Apes and Rosemary's Baby . He returned to his native England in the late 1960s, where he died in Brighton on March 12, 1989.

From the guide to the Maurice Evans papers, 1934-1970, (The New York Public Library. Billy Rose Theatre Division.)

Archival Resources
Role Title Holding Repository
referencedIn Maurice Evans in theater illustrations, 1948 and n.d. New York Public Library System, NYPL
referencedIn Samuel and Bella Spewack Papers, ca.1920-1980 Columbia University. Rare Book and Manuscript Library
creatorOf Higgins family. Higgins Family papers, 1923-1971. New York Public Library System, NYPL
referencedIn Higgins Family papers, 1923-1971 The New York Public Library. Billy Rose Theatre Division.
referencedIn Records, 1940-1946. New York State Historical Documents Inventory
creatorOf Post, Ted, 1918-.... Le secret de la planète des singes [Multimédia multisupport] / Ted Post, réal. ; Paul Dehn, Mort Abrahams, scénario ; based on characters created by Pierre Boulle ; Leonard Rosenman, comp. ; James Franciscus, Kim Hunter, Maurice Evans. .. [et al.], act. Bibliothèque nationale de France, BnF
referencedIn Rafael Valdivia portraits, 1926-1948 The New York Public Library. Billy Rose Theatre Division.
referencedIn John Van Druten papers, 1901-1957 The New York Public Library. Billy Rose Theatre Division.
referencedIn Shumlin, Herman, 1898-. Papers, 1930-1968. Wisconsin Historical Society, Newspaper Project
referencedIn Actors' Fund of America Photographs and Audio-Visual Materials, 1880-2006 Tamiment Library and Robert F. Wagner Labor Archives
creatorOf Evans, Maurice, 1901-1989. Papers and sound recordings, 1934-1970. New York Public Library System, NYPL
referencedIn Davis, Fitzroy. Costume design for Saint Joan, 1934. New York Public Library System, NYPL
creatorOf Taylor, Noel, 1913-2010. Noel Taylor costume designs for The teahouse of the August moon, 1953. New York Public Library System, NYPL
creatorOf Post, Ted, 1918-.... Le secret de la planète des singes [Multimédia multisupport] / Ted Post, réal. ; Paul Dehn, Mort Abrahams, scénario ; based on characters created by Pierre Boulle ; Leonard Rosenman, comp. ; James Franciscus, Kim Hunter, Maurice Evans. .. [et al.], act. Bibliothèque nationale de France, BnF
referencedIn Jerome Moross Papers, 1924-2000 Columbia University. Rare Book and Manuscript Library
creatorOf Papers, [ca. 1935-1965]. New York State Historical Documents Inventory
referencedIn John Eldon Thayer collection of motion picture memorabilia, 1916-1979. Harvard Theater Collection, Houghton Library, Harvard College Library, Harvard University
referencedIn Williams, Annie Laurie, 1894-1977. Annie Laurie Williams records, 1922-1971. Columbia University in the City of New York, Columbia University Libraries
referencedIn Moross, Jerome, 1913-1983. Papers, 1924-2000. Columbia University in the City of New York, Columbia University Libraries
referencedIn Spewack, Samuel and Bella. Papers, ca.1920-1980. Columbia University in the City of New York, Columbia University Libraries
referencedIn Valdivia, Rafael. Rafael Valdivia portraits, 1926-1948. New York Public Library System, NYPL
creatorOf Coburn, Charles. [Theater programs and related ephemera in the John Davis Batchelder Collection. 2. Shakespeare]. Library of Congress
creatorOf Alberg, Mildred Freed. Papers, 1951-1985. Wisconsin Historical Society, Newspaper Project
creatorOf Maurice Evans papers, 1934-1970 The New York Public Library. Billy Rose Theatre Division.
creatorOf Van Druten, John, 1901-1957. John Van Druten papers, 1901-1957. New York Public Library System, NYPL
creatorOf Evans, Maurice, 1901-1989. Maurice Evans papers, 1934-1970. New York Public Library System, NYPL
Role Title Holding Repository
Relation Name
associatedWith Actors' Fund of America. corporateBody
associatedWith Alberg, Mildred Freed. person
associatedWith Alden, Jerome. person
associatedWith Almirall, Lloyd person
associatedWith Almirall, Lloyd. person
associatedWith Anderson, Judith. person
associatedWith Anderson, Judith, Dame, 1898-1992 person
associatedWith Ayers, Lemuel person
associatedWith Ayres, Lemuel. person
associatedWith Best, Edna, 1900-1974. person
associatedWith Bloom, Claire, 1931- person
associatedWith British Actors Orphanage Fund. corporateBody
associatedWith Caron, Leslie. person
associatedWith Christians, Mady, 1900-1951. person
associatedWith Churchill, Sarah, 1914-1982. person
associatedWith Clark, Peggy person
associatedWith Clark, Peggy, 1915- person
associatedWith Cullman, Howard person
associatedWith Cullman, Howard. person
associatedWith DaCosta, Morton, 1914-1989. person
associatedWith Davis, Fitzroy. person
associatedWith Davis, Ossie person
associatedWith Davis, Ossie. person
associatedWith Denham, Reginald, 1894- person
associatedWith Ffolkes, David. person
associatedWith Ffolkes, David, 1912- person
associatedWith Field, Ruth. person
associatedWith Geer, Will person
associatedWith Geer, Will. person
associatedWith General Motors Corporation. corporateBody
associatedWith Gielgud, John, 1904- person
associatedWith Gordon, Ruth, 1896-1985. person
associatedWith Grayson, Richard, 1925- person
associatedWith Greene, Richard person
associatedWith Greene, Richard. person
associatedWith Griffith, Andy, 1926- person
associatedWith Guthrie, Tyrone, Sir, 1900-1971. person
associatedWith Haggott, John. person
associatedWith Hansen, William person
associatedWith Hansen, William. person
associatedWith Harris, Julie. person
associatedWith Harris, Julie, 1925- person
associatedWith Higgins family family
associatedWith Higgins family. corporateBody
associatedWith Huganir, Elma person
associatedWith Huganir, Elma. person
associatedWith Hyman, Mac person
associatedWith Hyman, Mac. person
associatedWith Ibsen, Henrik, 1828-1906. person
associatedWith Ireland, John, 1914-1992. person
associatedWith Jacobson, Sol person
associatedWith Jacobson, Sol. person
associatedWith Johnson, Arte, 1934- person
associatedWith Karloff, Boris, 1887-1969. person
associatedWith Kendrick, Lee. person
associatedWith Kenyon, Elmer person
associatedWith Kenyon, Elmer. person
associatedWith Knott, Frederick person
associatedWith Knott, Frederick. person
associatedWith Knotts, Don, 1924-2006. person
associatedWith Leve, Sam person
associatedWith Leve, Samuel. person
associatedWith Levin, Ira person
associatedWith Levin, Ira. person
associatedWith Lindey, Alexander, 1896- person
associatedWith Ludden, Allen. person
associatedWith Maurice Evans Industrials, Inc. corporateBody
associatedWith Maurice Evans Industrials, Inc. corporateBody
associatedWith Maurice Evans Productions, Inc. corporateBody
associatedWith McDowall, Roddy. person
associatedWith Moross, Jerome, 1913-1983. person
associatedWith New York Cultural Center. corporateBody
associatedWith Parker, Thane, 1907- person
associatedWith Patrick, John. person
associatedWith Patrick, John, 1905-1995 person
associatedWith Patrick, John, 1907- person
associatedWith Priestley, J. B. (John Boynton), 1894-1984. person
associatedWith Rattigan, Terence. person
associatedWith Riggs, Otis. person
associatedWith Schaefer, George, 1920- person
associatedWith Shakespeare, William, 1564-1616. person
associatedWith Shaw, Bernard, 1856-1950. person
associatedWith Shumlin, Herman, 1898- person
associatedWith Spewack, Samuel, 1899-1971 person
associatedWith Spewack, Samuel and Bella. person
associatedWith Taylor, Noel, 1913-2010. person
associatedWith Thayer, John Eldon, 1899-1980 person
associatedWith United States. Army. Entertainment Unit. corporateBody
associatedWith Valdivia, Rafael person
associatedWith Valdivia, Rafael. person
associatedWith Van Druten, John, 1901-1957. person
associatedWith Webster, Margaret, 1905-1972. person
associatedWith Williams, Annie Laurie, 1894-1977. person
Place Name Admin Code Country
United States
New York (State)--New York
New York (State)--New York
United States
Subject
Theater
Theater
Theater
Drama
Performing arts
Occupation
Actors
Activity

Person

Birth 1901-06-03

Death 1989-03-12

Britons

Information

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SNAC ID: 30123692