DREW, JOHN

(1853), comedian; b. Philadelphia, Pa., the son of John Drew, a popular Irish American actor, and Louisa Lane Drew, a notable actre of English birth. He began his theatrical career in 1873 as a member of his mother’s stock company in Philadelphia after studying at the Episcopal Academy in that city. Later he joined August in Daly’s celebrated stock company in New York City, acting leading parts from 1879 to 1892 in a series of revivals of cla ical comedies. As a star under Charles Frohman’s management in the presentation of modern plays, he continued to enact distinctive roles peculiar to his comedy vein, which he expre ed at its best in portraying certain society types calling for a suave blending of genial cynicism and good-breeding. In poke he published My Years on the ge.