Frank Gillmore

Frank Gillmore
Frank Gillmore in 1908
Born	(1867-05-14)May 14, 1867 New York City, New York
Died	March 29, 1943(1943-03-29) (aged 75) New York City, New York
Occupation	Actor

Frank Parker Gillmore (May 14, 1867, New York City, New York – March 29, 1943, New York City, New York) was an American playwright and a stage and early film actor. He was a founder and former President of Actor's Equity.

He was born to John Parker Gillmore and his actress wife, Emily (née Thorne: died March 5, 1907), sister of the actress Sarah Thorne and actors Thomas and George Thorne. At the time of his birth his parents were touring the United States, returning to Great Britain three weeks after their son's birth. Frank Gillmore was educated at the Chiswick Collegiate School in London and made his stage debut in London in 1879, then toured the British provinces for three years before returning to the London stage where he remained for a further five years. During this period he shared lodgings with George Arliss. Gillmore then alternated between appearances in Britain and America for a further five years. Aged 17 he appeared with Lillie Langtry.

He married the American actress Laura Margaret MacGillivray whom he met when they both appeared in an American tour of Lady Windermere's Fan. With her he had two daughters, the actors Ruth Gillmore and Margalo Gillmore. Frank Gillmore appeared as a leading man with the companies of Minnie Fiske, Henrietta Crosman, Mary Mannering, Bertha Kalich and George Fawcett, among others.

Gillmore's stage appearances included a single matinee performance of The Merchant of Venice on October 17, 1895 at the Gaiety Theatre in London, when he played Bassanio,The Ghost of Jerry Bundler at the Haymarket Theatre in London in September 1902, and A Japanese Nightingale which opened at Daly's Theater in New York in November 1903.