CONNESS, ROBERT

(1868-1941)

   Born in La Salle County, Illinois, Robert Conness grew up in Kansas City and worked as a stenographer for a railway company in Kansas City while indulging his passion for theatre by ushering at Coates Opera House. After testing his wings in amateur theatricals, he made his professional acting debut in 1894. He worked with a number of important stock and touring companies, playing both leading man and character roles. Among his successes were the title role in Robert Emmet (1903) and featured roles in The Reckoning (1907) and The Boomerang (1915).