fiction.wikisort.org - Actor

The Groves family is a British theatre family which traces its roots to the Regency era.[1] Its descendants include actors of the Victorian stage, the British Music Hall, Broadway theatre and motion pictures.

The lineage begins with Martha Bigg (1822—1915), who began her acting career playing children’s roles[1] in London’s West End in 1830.[1] She appeared in Peter Bell the Wagonner at the Royal Cobourg Theatre (today The Old Vic)[1] and in the title role of Tom Thumb at the Theatre Royal, Haymarket.[1] In 1841 Bigg married the actor Charles Groves (1807—1864). Together they toured the provinces, acting, producing and devising shows over the next two decades, simultaneously raising a family of ten children while travelling and working in theatres across Britain and Ireland.[1]

Of the Groves 10 children:

Charles Groves (1843—1909) born in Limerick, Ireland. He performed as a pantomime clown, dramatic actor and comedian in London’s West End and on Broadway. He also toured the United States with the D’Oyly Carte Opera.[2] He is noted for his stage performances alongside Sir John Hare in A Pair of Spectacles (Garrick Theatre).[2] Two of his sons, Charles Groves (1876—1955) and Fred Groves (1881—1955), achieved note in theatre and on film, with careers encompassing the transition of the silent period to the age of the talkies. The sons died within ten days of each other in 1955.

Emma Groves (1846—1908) born in Monmouthshire, Wales. Played Lady Capulet in Romeo and Juliet at Sadler’s Wells in 1874.[3]

Mary Ann Groves (1848—unknown) born in Lambeth, London.

Elizabeth Groves (1850—1935) born in Swansea, Wales. Performed as Lizzie Groves throughout the provinces in Victorian comedy and burlesque (often alongside her sister Pattie),[4] and in pantomime at the Covent Garden Theatre (today the Royal Opera House). She married Byron Pedley (b. 1844), a noted stage comedian who was diagnosed with ‘confusional insanity’, eventually dying in a London asylum in 1910.[5]

Pattie Groves (1853—1941). Born Martha Groves, Warrington, Cheshire. Worked as a child actress,[6] then in pantomime and in stage comedies across the United Kingdom.[4] Married Richard Hicks (1851—1900), an Irish stage comedian who succumbed to alcohol addiction.[7] On 26 December 1900, Hicks died of starvation in a London workhouse,[7] estranged from Pattie for over ten years. Their daughter Madeline Hicks (1881—1961), an actress with the London Comedy Company,[8] married George Richards in Rangoon in 1904,[8] and subsequently worked in theatres across British India.[9]

Henry “Harry” Groves (b. Leeds, Yorkshire, 1855). Little is known of Harry except, according to censuses, he worked as a groom and carriage driver. His great-granddaughter Linda Groves married the Liverpool-born comedian George Roper in 1968. Thus, Harry is a 2nd great-grandfather to the actor and comedian Matt Roper.

Walter Groves (b. Manchester, Lancashire 1856). In addition to achieving success as an actor in the legitimate theatres, Walter also wrote, produced and starred in his own comedy sketches which toured the British music halls. He is noted for becoming the first spoken-word comedian in the Fred Karno Company, having originated the role of Sgt. Lightning onstage in Karno’s first full length musical-comedy Her Majesty’s Guests. He is also said to have created the walk that Charlie Chaplin made world famous as the Little Tramp — a claim made by Karno himself.[10][11][12] Walter married the actress Lizzie Aney and fathered two children. Their descendants include the actors Lily Groves (daughter), Donald Groves (grandson) and the writer Fiona Gruber (great-granddaughter).[13] He died in Blackpool, 1906.[14]

Matilda “Tilly'' Groves (b. Birmingham, Warwickshire, 1859). Played the title role in Little Bo Peep at the Covent Garden Theatre in 1873.[15] Her subsequent appearances, billed as ”Little Tilly Groves”, were highly publicized and very successful.[16] This prominence faded as she reached adulthood, and she played minor character parts in provincial roles until her death in 1898.

Arthur Groves (1861—unknown). Born in Northamptonshire. Worked as a comedian in the Music halls and as an early Labour Party campaigner, organizing benefit concerts and performing at party rallies.[17][18]

Ellen Laura "Nelly" Groves (1865—1920) born in Northamptonshire. Played alongside her elder sister Tilly in Little Bo Peep at the Covent Garden Theatre (1873)[15] and as Little Red Riding Hood at the same theatre. In later years Nelly lived as her mother’s constant companion until Martha’s death in 1915.

See also

• List of show business families

References

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