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Laurence Hanray

Known For
Acting

Known Credits
60

Gender
Male

Birthday
May 15, 1874 (152 years old)

Place of Birth
Hampstead, London, England, UK

Laurence Hanray

Biography

Laurence Hanray (16 May 1874 – 28 November 1947), 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 Lawrence Henry Jacobs in St John's Wood on 16 May 1874, the son of Angelo Jacobs (c. 1851-1910), a glass manufacturer, and Leah (née Nathan; 1850/1851 - 1946).

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 1901-04, 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 (36), actor, is listed as residing at the Woolton Hall Hydropathic Hotel, Much Woolton, Lancashire, England.

Hanray married Dorothy Mary Chambers Farnsworth (1884-1918) in the Birkenhead district during the first quarter of 1914. She petitioned for divorce in 1917, but then died suddenly in London on 16 August 1918. Hanray married Lois Grace Heatherley (1892-1966) in Paddington during the same quarter his first wife died. Lois was also an actress and performed with Laurence at the Booth Theatre, Broadway, in 1921. They were also together in The Faithful Heart, she as Ginger and Laurence as Major Lestrade, at the Comedy Theatre, Haymarket. Travel records then show the couple arriving in New York in September 1922. He appeared in John Galsworthy's play Loyalties at the Gaeity Theatre on Broadway. They arrived in Liverpool in May 1923. The couple also played together in Escape at the Booth Theatre, Broadway in 1927, she as Miss Grace and he in multiple roles (the Fellow Convict, the Old Gentleman and the Farmer).

Laurence and Lois had a daughter, Ursula Susan Edith Hanray, on 16 November 1923. According to travel records, the family visited America from September 1927. Laurence also went on his own to Canada in September 1931, and also during 1939-1940. Ursula became a child actress, playing the title role in the first televised production of Alice Through The Looking Glass in 1937, and the young Queen Victoria in a London theatre in 1940.

Hanray worked almost up to his death; The Times reported in early September 1947 that he was to appear in a play at Dunfermline Abbey Theatre. He died at age 73 on 28 November 1947, following an operation at the Middlesex Hospital, London. Lois Grace Hanray died aged 74 on 25 April 1966.

Known For

Acting

1947Mine Own Executioneras Dr. Lefage
1947The Life and Adventures of Nicholas Nicklebyas Mr. Gride
1945Read All About Itas Bostock
1945Waterloo Roadas
1944Love Storyas Angus Rossiter
1944Hotel Reserveas Police Commissioner
1944On Approvalas Parkes
1943My Learned Friendas Sir Norman
1942Let the People Singas
1942Hatter's Castleas Dr. Lawrie
1941Old Mother Riley's Circusas Cheddar, KC
1941Quiet Weddingas Mr. Williamson
1941The Ghost of St. Michael'sas Clerk of Court
194021 Daysas Solicitor
1938Julius Caesaras Casca
1938Many Watersas
1938A Royal Divorceas Klemens von Metternich
1937The Last Chanceas Mr. Perrin
1937Smash and Grabas Praskins (as Laurence Hanray)
1937The Girl in the Taxias Charencey
1937Knight Without Armouras Forrester
1937Action for Slanderas Clerk of Court (as Lawrence Hanray)
1937Dark Journeyas Cottin
1937Midnight Menaceas Sir George, Lead Conspirator
1937Fire Over Englandas French Ambassador
1937It's Never Too Late to Mendas Lawyer Crawley
1937Moonlight Sonataas Mr. Bishop
1936Rembrandtas Heertsbeeke
1936Someone at the Dooras Poole
1936Lonely Roadas Jenkinson, lawyer
1936The Man Who Could Work Miraclesas Mr. Bamfylde
1936Beloved Impostoras Arthur
1936Whom the Gods Love: The Original Story of Mozart and His Wifeas Archbishop of Salzburg
1936The Three Maximsas Thomas
1935Street Songas Tuttle
1935Drake of Englandas Minor role
1935Adventure Ltd.as Simon Ledbury
1935Mimias Barbemouche
1935Brewster's Millionsas Grant
1935Murder at Monte Carloas Collum
1934Lorna Dooneas Parson Bowden
1934The Great Defenderas Parker
1934What Happened Then?as Dr. Bristol
1934Chu Chin Chowas Kasim Baba
1934Those Were the Daysas Wormington
1934The Rise of Catherine the Greatas Goudovitch
1933The Private Life of Henry VIIIas Archbishop Cranmer
1933His Grace Gives Noticeas Mr Greyling
1933Loyaltiesas Jacob Twisden
1933This Week of Graceas Lawyer Cowlber
1933The Good Companionsas Mr. James Tarvin
1933The Man from Torontoas Duncan
1932There Goes the Brideas Police Chief (uncredited)
1932Leap Yearas Hope
1932Wedding Rehearsalas News editor
1932That Night in Londonas Ribbles
1932Love on Wheelsas Gallop's Commissionaire
1932The Faithful Heartas Major Ango
1931Her Reputationas Mr. Montgomery
1930Beyond the Citiesas Gregory Hayes

Production