BENRIMO, J. HARRY

(1874-1942)

   The actor, director, and playwright was born in San Francisco and began acting in 1892 with the Alcazar Theatre's stock company there, playing supporting roles to such stars on tour as Helena Modjeska and James O'Neill. He made his New York debut in 1897 in The First Born. In producer Charles Frohman's Empire Theatre company from 1898, he performed both in London and New York. He then appeared in several David Belasco productions, including The Rose of the Ran-cho (1906). After 1911, he gave up acting to write plays: The Yellow Jacket (1912, with George C. Hazelton) and The Willow Tree (1917, with Harrison Rhodes).