Laurence Hanray

Who was Laurence Hanray?

Laurence Hanray, 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 Laurence Henry Jacobs in St. John's Wood, on 16 May 1874, the son of Angelo Jacobs, a glass manufacturer, and Leah Nathan. 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 to 1904, 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, actor, is listed as residing at the Woolton Hall Hydropathic Hotel, Much Woolton, Lancashire, England.