Henrietta Crosman

Henrietta Crosman
Crosman in a publicity still from the Broadway play Madeline (1906)
Born	Henrietta Foster Crosman (1861-09-02)September 2, 1861 Wheeling, West Virginia, U.S.
Died	October 31, 1944(1944-10-31) (aged 83) parent Pelham Manor, New York, U.S.
Occupation	Actress
Years active	1883–1940s
Spouse(s)	J. Sedley Browne (1886-1896; divorced); 1 child Maurice Campbell (1896-1942; his death); 1 child
Children	George Browne Maurice Campbell Jr.
Parent(s)	William Barclay Foster and Eliza Clayland Tomlinson Foster

Henrietta Foster Crosman (September 2, 1861 – October 31, 1944) was an American stage and film actress. She was born in Wheeling, West Virginia, to George Crosman Jr. (1836–1911), a Civil War Major, and Mary B. Wick (1837–1912), a niece of composer Stephen Foster.

Her grandfather was a Civil War General, George H. Crosman. Crosman was born the year the Civil War started and moved all over the US from post to post with her army father, and so was educated in many places. On leaving school she decided to become an actress. She got her start in 1883 at the old Windsor Theatre, New York with the assistance of the long-time theatre manager John A. Ellsler. Her debut role was as Lilly in Bartley Campbell's The White Slave.

She later toured the country with Robert L. Downing in classic parts. In 1889 she appeared in her first Shakespeare play, As You Like It, at Augustin Daly's theater. During the course of the early 1890s she was managed by Daniel Frohman and appeared in his stock company. From 1892 to 1894 her career was managed by Daniel's brother, Charles Frohman. For a short period during 1891, and in between Frohman brothers, she was under the aegis of A. M. Palmer.

By 1900 Crosman was a star and appeared for the first time as such in Mistress Nell keeping in line with the sort of costume adventures that were becoming her forte. In 1902, she appeared in the productions of "Joan of the Shoals", "As You Like It" and "The Sword of the King". In 1903, she premiered another exceptional play, "Sweet Kitty Bellairs". Several of these plays would be made as films in the silent era played by younger actresses.

In 1911, she and her company staged 60 performances of Catherine Chisholm Cushing's comedy The Real Thing at the Maxine Elliott Theatre in New York, before taking the show on the road. In early July 1912, Crosman and company were in Regina, Saskatchewan following the Regina Cyclone, and staged a benefit performance of The Real Thing for the victims.