William gillette biography
William Gillette - Students | Britannica Kids | Homework Help.
William Gillette
American manager and playwright
William Gillette | |
|---|---|
| Born | William Hooker Gillette ()July 24, Hartford, Connecticut, U.S. |
| Died | April 29, () (aged&#;83) Hartford, Connecticut, U.S. |
| Occupation(s) | Actor, playwright, inventor, stage manager, director |
William Hooker Gillette (July 24, &#; April 29, ) was an American actor-manager, playwright, and stage manager in the late 19th and early 20th centuries.
William Hooker Gillette | Comedian, Humorist, Satirist
He is best remembered for portraying Sherlock Holmeson stage and in a silent film.
Gillette's most significant contributions to the theater were in devising realistic stage settings and special sound and lighting effects, and as an actor in putting forth what he called the "Illusion of the First Time." His portrayal of Holmes helped create the modern image of the detective.
His use of the deerstalker cap (which first appeared in some Strand illustrations by Sidney Paget) and the curved pipe became enduring symbols of the character.