Robert B. Mantell
| Robert B. Mantell | |
|---|---|
 |
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| Born |
Robert Bruce Mantell 7 February 1854 Irvine, North Ayrshire, Scotland, UK |
| Died | 27 June 1928 Atlantic Highlands, New Jersey, U.S. |
| Other names | Robert Hudson |
| Occupation | Actor |
| Years active | 1874–1928 |
| Spouse(s) | 1) Marie Sheldon 2) Charlotte Behrens 3) Marie Booth Russell (died 1911) 4) Genevieve Hamper |
| Children | Ethel Mantell (daughter with Behrens) Robert Bruce Mantell, Jr. (1912–1933), son with Genevieve Hamper |
| Relatives | Angela Lansbury (great-niece) |
Robert Bruce Mantell (7 February 1854 – 27 June 1928) was a noted Shakespearean stage actor who made several silent films. His mother was Elizabeth Bruce Mantell who objected to her son becoming an actor so he used the name Robert Hudson early in his career.
Born in Scotland and raised in Dublin, he traveled to the United States in 1874, but stayed only two weeks with no theatrical success. He returned in 1878 in support of Helena Modjeska but did not stay. In 1883 he found success on Broadway supporting Fanny Davenport as her leading man in Fedora. For the remainder of his theatrical career he played Shakespeare and high class drama. He married several times, and often performed with his wives in Shakespearean productions. His last wife, Genevieve Hamper (1888–1971), was 35 years his junior.
He began acting in films in 1915, aged 61, working at Fox Studios with J. Gordon Edwards, who directed all of his films except the last. Under the Red Robe (1923) was directed by Alan Crosland and distributed through Goldwyn Pictures. As with most early Fox films, all of Mantell's films from that studio are lost. Elements of Under the Red Robe are held at George Eastman House in Rochester, New York.
Robert Bruce Mantell was born on 7 February 1854 in Irvine, Scotland, the third child of James Mantell and his wife Elizabeth née Bruce. His mother could reportedly trace her lineage to Robert the Bruce. He was born at the Wheatsheaf Inn, which his parents owned and operated.
When "Bobbie", as he was known, was five years old, his parents sold the Wheatsheaf and moved to Dublin to take over management of a larger public house, which they named the Eglington-Winton. He attended five different schools and was dismissed from each for disciplinary problems. It was not until he was enrolled at McClinton's Seminary that he finally obtained something of a formal education.
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