LAWRENCE, GERALD

LAWRENCE, GERALD (1873–1957), British actor. Born in London, Lawrence was the nephew of Isaac Cohen who owned the Pavilion Theater, Whitechapel. He was noted for romantic roles such as David Garrick, Monsieur Beaucaire, Charles Surface, and Beau Brummel, which he played in London and on tour. In his early years he acted with Sir Frank R. Benson, Sir H. Beerbohm Tree, and then with Sir Henry Irving until the latter's death in 1905. He distinguished himself in many Shakespearean roles and later appeared as Hamlet and Shylock in his own productions. Lawrence appeared in several silent films and in victor saville 's The Iron Duke (1934). He was the father of the well-known British actress JOYCE CAREY (1898–1993), who appeared in numerous films, plays, and television productions over a 70-year career.