George Grossmith, Jr.

Who was George Grossmith, Jr.?

George Grossmith, Jr. was a British actor, theatre producer and manager, director, playwright and songwriter, best remembered for his work in and with Edwardian musical comedies. Grossmith was also an important innovator in bringing "cabaret" and "revues" to the London stage. Born in London, he took his first role on the musical stage at the age of 18 in Haste to the Wedding, a West End collaboration between his famous songwriter and actor father and W.S. Gilbert.

Grossmith soon became an audience favourite playing "dude" roles. Early appearances in musicals included George Edwardes's hit A Gaiety Girl in 1893, and Go-Bang and The Shop Girl in 1894. In 1895, Grossmith left the musical stage, instead appearing in straight comedies, but after a few years he returned to performing in musicals and Victorian burlesques. Early in the new century, he had a string of successes in musicals for Edwardes, including The Toreador, The School Girl, The Orchid, The Spring Chicken, The New Aladdin, The Girls of Gottenberg, Our Miss Gibbs, Peggy, The Sunshine Girl and The Girl on the Film. The lanky Grossmith was often comically paired with the diminutive Edmund Payne.