Grace Henderson

Grace Henderson (1860, Ann Arbor, Michigan - October 30, 1944, Bronx, New York) was a stage actress and prolific performer in silent motion pictures. She made her professional debut at McKiver's Theatre in Chicago, Illinois in 1877.

A decade later she began a successful run at the Lyceum Theatre in New York City. She originated therole of "Lucille Ferrand" in "The Wife". She played in "The Marquis", and received acclaim for her performance as "Phyliss Lee" in "The Charity Ball". Later Grace Henderson supported Nance O'Neill in "Peter Pan", with Maude Adams' company. This production was staged at the Empire Theatre.

She toured in "Lightnin". The actress' final stage appearance came in the Theatre Guild production of "Green Grow The Lilacs".

Henderson participated in more than one hundred twenty silent films starting in 1909 with "Lucky Jim". She was in "His Trust" (1911) which was directed by D.W. Griffith and "Trying To Fool Uncle" (1912), a production of Mack Sennett. Her last film was "Day Dreams", directed by Clarence C. Badger, in which she played "Grandmother Burn".

Personal life

Grace was the widow of David Henderson, a Chicago newspaper man, who managed the Chicago Opera House. In November 1896 David Henderson obtained a divorce decree from her. He charged her with infidelity. George Alexander Ballantine of New York was named as co-respondent. The theatrical manager alleged that Grace visited Paris, France with Ballantine. On the trip George created a sensation by applying in the French courts for a divorce from his wife. Henderson did not request custody of their son.

Grace was his second wife. He married a third time the same month the divorce was granted from Grace. David Henderson's third wife was Frankie Raymond, formerly a burlesque performer for the Henderson Burlesque Company. During this time Grace was appearing in New York in "Under the Polar Star".

George Ballantine lastly married Minnie Howe Parry on August 28, 1896 at the Waldorf. The announcement of their engagement caused a rift between Grace and Ballantine, in which a revolver played a significant part Fact|date=February 2007.

Grace Henderson died in 1944 in Morrisania Hospital, Bronx, New York, aged 84. She was survived by a son, Edwin L. Henderson, of Schenectady, New York.

External links

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References

* The New York Times, "Mrs. David Henderson", October 31, 1944, Page 19.
* The New York Times, "David and Grace Henderson divorced", November 7, 1896, Page 1.
* The New York Times, "David Henderson Marries Again", November 24, 1896, Page 5.
* The New York Times, "G.A. Ballantine's Debts", December 14, 1900, Page 3.