(1858-1942)
Born in Cambridge, Massachusetts, where his father was a local minister, Otis Skinner began his long career at the Philadelphia Museum in 1877, followed by two seasons at the Walnut Street Theatre and small roles in productions starring Edwin Booth, Lawrence Barrett, and Joseph Jefferson. He joined Augustin Daly's company for four years, after which he appeared with Booth and Helena Modjeska in a series of Shakespearean productions. In 1894, he achieved solo star status in His Grace de Grammont, followed by notable—and many critics felt flamboyant—performances in a 1901 revival of Francesca da Rimini, The Taming of the Shrew (1904), The Duel (1906), The Honor of the Family (1908), Kismet (1911), The Silent Voice (1915), Mister Antonio (1916), Pietro (1920), Blood and Sand (1921), A Hundred Years Old (1929), and his final New York performance in the title role of a 1933 revival of Uncle Tom's Cabin. With his wife, Maud, he authored several books and Skinner was the father of actress-playwright Cornelia Otis Skinner.
The Historical Dictionary of the American Theater. James Fisher.