G. P. Huntley

Huntley was born into a theatrical family in Fermoy, County Cork.{{Cite news |url=https://link.gale.com/apps/doc/CS269557046/TTDA |title=Mr. G. P. Huntley |newspaper=The Times |publication-place=London |issue=44693 |page=16 |date=22 September 1927 |access-date=2024-01-25 |via=The Times Digital Archive}} He made his stage debut at the age of six as Pike Rich in Under the Gaslight, and toured for some years with the theatrical troupe of his father, Frank Huntley.Parker (1925), p. 475 Moving to England, Huntley played in melodramas in London and on tour. From 1882 to 1885, he played at the Adelphi Theatre, then at the Theatre Royal, Drury Lane in both drama and comedy.Parker (1922), [https://books.google.com/books?id=qyk_AQAAMAAJ&pg=PA418 p. 418–419] He joined the company of William and Madge Kendal, and went with them to New York in 1891. He remained with the Kendals for four years, in London and on three further US visits.

In 1901 he had his first major success in the West End, playing a "knut" role, Lord Plantagenet, in the Edwardian musical comedy Kitty Grey. In the view of The Times, other roles for which he was particularly celebrated were Lord Cheyne in Three Little Maids (1902), Sir Ormesby St-Leger in The School Girl (1903), and Mr Hook in Miss Hook of Holland (1908). In 1905 he played the Doctor in Passion, Poison, and Petrifaction. Other roles in musicals included Sir Titus in The Circus Girl (1897), A Runaway Girl (1899), Trooper Smith in Lady Madcap (1904), the title characters in Mr. Popple of Ippleton (1905) and The Hon'ble Phil (1908), Victor in My Mimosa Maid (1908), and Lord Playne in Betty (1915).Carnell, Jennifer. [http://www.sensationpress.com/gphuntley.htm "G.P. Huntley (1866-1927)"], The Sensation Press, accessed 18 November 2014 In the music halls he worked with his wife, Eva Kelly, in comic sketches, such as "Buying a Gun", "Selling a Pup" and "The Fairy Glen Laundry".

He was almost as well known in the US as in the UK, making regular Broadway appearances before and after the First World War, including the New York runs of some of his musicals, as well as Eccles in the play Caste (1910), Hitchy-Koo of 1920, Sir George in The Second Mrs. Tanqueray (1924) and Sir Francis in a 1926 adaptation of Gentlemen Prefer Blondes.[http://www.playbillvault.com/Person/Detail/120700/G-P-Huntley "G. P. Huntley"], Playbill Vault, accessed 18 November 2014[http://ibdb.com/person.php?id=114279 "G. P. Huntley"], Internet Broadway Database, accessed 18 November 2014

Huntley married married Evangeline (Eva) Margaret Kelly, an actress 12 years his junior, on 29 January 1902 at St Nicholas, Thames Ditton; they were engaged during the run of Kitty Grey.{{cite news|title=From Day to Day|location=London|newspaper=Morning Leader|date=3 February 1902}} The couple had three children, but only one,1911 Census the film actor G. P. Huntley Jr.,{{cite book |last1=Gänzl |first1=Kurt |author-link=Kurt Gänzl|title=The Encyclopedia of the Musical Theatre: Gi-N |date=2001 |publisher=Schirmer Books |page=972}} survived to adulthood.Surrey, England, Church of England Burials, 1813–1997

Huntley died on 21 September 1927 at the age of 59, in a London nursing home, after suffering from jaundice.{{cite news|title=Chit Chat|newspaper=The Stage|date=22 September 1927}} He was buried at St Nicholas on 24 September.{{cite news|title=G P Huntley's Funeral|newspaper=The People|page=11|date=25 September 1927}}

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• {{cite book | last= Parker | first= John | year=1925 | title= Who's Who in the Theatre | location=London |edition=fifth| publisher=Sir Isaac Pitman and Sons | oclc=10013159 }}
• {{cite book | last= Parker | first= John | year=1922 | title= Who's Who in the Theatre | location=London |edition=fourth| publisher=Sir Isaac Pitman and Sons | oclc=10013159}}

{{Commons category|George Patrick Huntley}}

• [http://footlightnotes.tumblr.com/post/43207870065/g-p-huntley-1868-1927-english-actor-and-eva Photo of Huntley and Kelly touring the US in Kitty Grey]

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Category:1868 births

Category:1927 deaths

Category:English male stage actors