Thomas Holding

Thomas Holding was born in Greenwich, Kent, England in 1878. Having finished his education at Rugby, he went onto the stage under the management of Charles Hawtrey with whom he appeared in many London productions (he was 14 years on the London stage playing with distinguished Shakespearean actors such as Sir Herbert Tree, the Kendal's the Terry's and Sir Johnston Forbes-Robertson). He then attracted the attention of Charles Frohman and signed with him for the juvenile lead in "Are You a Mason?", and "Loaves and Fishes." After a Shakespearean tour through Australia, in which he appeared in the principal role of ten plays, he returned to the Strand Theatre, London to sing the leading baritone's part in "The Chinese Honeymoon." He then went back to dramatic stage in Edward Terry's company. It was Charles Frohman who first brought Thomas to New York in 1908 as leading man to Billie Burke, Maxine Elliott and many other equally well known players. His portrayal of Ben Hur, under Klaw and Erlanger's management, brought him considerable praise and recognition. His first film in 1915, "The Eternal City," filmed in Rome, gained him a large following. Following that he alternated between stage and screen. On the 4th May, 1929 he arrived at Longacre Theatre, New York, where he was appearing in Mystery Square, feeling unwell, he died in his dressing room of a heart attack.