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Laurence Hanray

Laurence Hanray (16 May 1874 – 28 November 1947), sometimes credited as Lawrence Hanray, was a British film and theatre actor born in London, England. He is also credited as the author of several plays and music hall songs. Laurence Hanray was born Lawrence Henry Jacobs in St John's Wood on 16 May 1874, the son of Angelo Jacobs (c. 1851-1910), a glass manufacturer, and Leah (née Nathan; 1850/1851 - 1946). His father changed his name to Angelo Jacobs Hanray, and with it the family name, after becoming bankrupt in 1897, although Laurence had been using the name Hanray professionally from at least 1892, when he appeared as a member of the Hermann Vezin Theatre Company in supporting roles in Hamlet and Macbeth at Her Majesties Theatre, Dundee. Australian newspapers show he was in Australia and New Zealand from around 1901-04, appearing as Carraway Bones the undertaker in the farce Turned Up at the Theatre Royal, Perth, in May 1901, and subsequently at most of the main cities until June 1904. Travel records show him departing Sydney for Auckland in August 1901, and sailing from Sydney for London on 7 October 1904. He then resumed touring in Britain. In the 1911 census, Laurence Hanray (36), actor, is listed as residing at the Woolton Hall Hydropathic Hotel, Much Woolton, Lancashire, England. Hanray married Dorothy Mary Chambers Farnsworth (1884-1918) in the Birkenhead district during the first quarter of 1914. She petitioned for divorce in 1917, but then died suddenly in London on 16 August 1918. Hanray married Lois Grace Heatherley (1892-1966) in Paddington during the same quarter his first wife died. Lois was also an actress and performed with Laurence at the Booth Theatre, Broadway, in 1921. They were also together in The Faithful Heart, she as Ginger and Laurence as Major Lestrade, at the Comedy Theatre, Haymarket. Travel records then show the couple arriving in New York in September 1922. He appeared in John Galsworthy's play Loyalties at the Gaeity Theatre on Broadway. They arrived in Liverpool in May 1923. The couple also played together in Escape at the Booth Theatre, Broadway in 1927, she as Miss Grace and he in multiple roles (the Fellow Convict, the Old Gentleman and the Farmer). Laurence and Lois had a daughter, Ursula Susan Edith Hanray, on 16 November 1923. According to travel records, the family visited America from September 1927. Laurence also went on his own to Canada in September 1931, and also during 1939-1940. Ursula became a child actress, playing the title role in the first televised production of Alice Through The Looking Glass in 1937, and the young Queen Victoria in a London theatre in 1940. Hanray worked almost up to his death; The Times reported in early September 1947 that he was to appear in a play at Dunfermline Abbey Theatre. He died at age 73 on 28 November 1947, following an operation at the Middlesex Hospital, London. Lois Grace Hanray died aged 74 on 25 April 1966.


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Born:
May 16, 1874 In Hampstead, London, England, UK
Movie/TV Credits:
56
First Appeared:
In the movie Beyond the Cities 1930-11-18
Latest Project:
Movie Mine Own Executioner 1947-11-22
Known For
Poster of Read All About It
Poster of Old Mother Riley's Circus
Poster of A Royal Divorce
Poster of Leap Year
Filmography
Movie Mine Own Executioner Dr. Lefage 1947-11-22
Movie The Life and Adventures of Nicholas Nickleby Mr. Gride 1947-03-12
Movie Waterloo Road 1945-02-05
Movie Read All About It Bostock 1945-04-08
Movie Hotel Reserve Police Commissioner 1944-06-01
Movie On Approval Parkes 1944-05-22
Movie Love Story Angus Rossiter 1944-11-20
Movie My Learned Friend Sir Norman 1943-10-25
Movie Hatter's Castle Dr. Lawrie 1942-02-02
Movie The Ghost of St. Michael's Clerk of Court 1941-04-01
Movie Old Mother Riley's Circus Cheddar, KC 1941-12-10
Movie Quiet Wedding Mr. Williamson 1941-04-19
Movie 21 Days Together Solicitor 1940-01-07
Movie A Royal Divorce Klemens von Metternich 1938-09-21
Movie The Last Chance Mr. Perrin 1937-11-11
Movie Fire Over England French Ambassador 1937-03-05
Movie It's Never Too Late to Mend Lawyer Crawley 1937-03-01
Movie Moonlight Sonata Mr. Bishop 1937-02-11
Movie Dark Journey Cottin 1937-07-02
Movie Midnight Menace Sir George, Lead Conspirator 1937-05-04
Movie Action for Slander Clerk of Court (as Lawrence Hanray) 1937-07-21
Movie The Girl in the Taxi Charencey 1937-09-02
Movie Smash and Grab Praskins (as Laurence Hanray) 1937-09-20
Movie Knight Without Armour Forrester 1937-07-23
Movie Beloved Impostor Arthur 1936-07-20
Movie The Three Maxims Thomas 1936-01-01
Movie Whom the Gods Love: The Original Story of Mozart and His Wife Archbishop of Salzburg 1936-02-22
Movie The Man Who Could Work Miracles Mr. Bamfylde 1936-07-23
Movie Lonely Road Jenkinson 1936-08-23
Movie Rembrandt Heertsbeeke 1936-11-06
Movie Someone at the Door Poole 1936-09-28
Movie Brewster's Millions Grant 1935-01-01
Movie Mimi Barbemouche 1935-03-28
Movie Drake of England Minor role 1935-05-16
Movie Street Song Tuttle 1935-09-16
Movie Adventure Ltd. Simon Ledbury 1935-03-31
Movie Those Were the Days Wormington 1934-04-02
Movie Chu Chin Chow Kasim Baba 1934-05-01
Movie The Rise of Catherine the Great Goudovitch 1934-02-09
Movie What Happened Then? Dr. Bristol 1934-09-24
Movie Lorna Doone Parson Bowden 1934-12-09
Movie The Great Defender Parker 1934-11-26
Movie The Good Companions Mr. James Tarvin 1933-02-28
Movie This Week of Grace Lawyer Cowlber 1933-06-30
Movie The Man from Toronto Duncan 1933-01-01
Movie Loyalties Jacob Twisden 1933-07-02
Movie The Private Life of Henry VIII Archbishop Cranmer 1933-08-17
Movie His Grace Gives Notice Mr Greyling 1933-07-22
Movie Love on Wheels Gallop's Commissionaire 1932-07-26
Movie The Faithful Heart Major Ango 1932-05-01
Movie That Night in London Ribbles 1932-08-01
Movie Wedding Rehearsal News editor 1932-10-01
Movie Leap Year Hope 1932-10-11
Movie There Goes the Bride Police Chief (uncredited) 1932-10-25
Movie Her Reputation Mr. Montgomery 1931-07-21
Movie Beyond the Cities Gregory Hayes 1930-11-18