John Drew, Jr.

Who was John Drew, Jr.?

John Drew, Jr. was an American stage actor noted for his roles in Shakespearean comedy, society drama, and light comedies. He was the eldest son of John Drew, who had given up a blossoming career in whaling for acting, and Louisa Lane Drew, and the brother of Louisa Drew, Georgiana Drew & Sidney Drew. As such, he was also the uncle of John, Ethel, and Lionel Barrymore and also great-great uncle to Drew Barrymore. He was considered to be the leading matinee idol of his day, but unlike most matinee idols Drew's acting ability was largely undisputed.

John Drew, Jr. was educated at a fine academy in Philadelphia, but the life of the theater would become his primary focus at a young age. His first role as a boy was “Plumper” in Cool as a Cucumber at the family’s Arch Street Theater.

Drew had a long association with Charles Frohman and leading lady Maude Adams. In these years under Frohman, John Drew's stardom was established. His first play with Frohman was The Masked Ball, a comedy adapted from a French play. This show was primarily a vehicle to establish Drew’s stardom under Frohman, and it succeeded in that.

Drew was associated originally with the company of Augustin Daly in the 1880s, a man known for managing and training with grim efficiency. Under Daly’s management, John Drew developed his reputation for versatility, appearing in many varieties of plays, but especially in contemporary works that are rarely performed or remembered today. His frequent leading lady with Daly was the legendary Ada Rehan. His memoirs, titled My Years on the Stage, were published in 1922.