Breese, Edmund

Biography

Edmund Breese was born in Brooklyn, New York on June 18, 1871, the son of Josephine (Bushby) and Renshaw Breese. He made his first appearance on the stage at the Opera House, Eureka Springs, Arkansas, in the Summer of 1895, in the part of Adonis Evergreen in My Awful Dad.

From 1896 to 1898 he played lead with Madame Rhea, appearing as Charles II in Nell Gwynne, Napoleon in Josephine, Earl of Leicester in Marie Stuart, de Sartorys in Frou-Frou, Benedick in Much Ado About Nothing, Shylock in the Merchant of Venice and Chrysos in Pygmalion and Galatea. From 1898-1902 he was a member of James O'Neill's company playing in Monte Cristo, Virginius, and When Greek Meets Greek.

During his career Breese performed in numerous plays in the United States and London and later starred in Hollywood films. He passed away on April 6, 1936.

Source:

Who Was Who in the Theatre, 1912-1976: a Biographical Dictionary of Actors, Actresses, Directors, Playwrights, and Producers of the English-speaking Theatre . Detroit: Gale Research Company, 1978.

From the guide to the Edmund Breese Sides Collection, 1901-1902, (University of California, Davis. General Library. Department of Special Collections.)