- Born
- Died
- Birth nameFrank Robert Benson
- Frank R. Benson was born on November 4, 1858 in Alresford, Hampshire, England, UK. He was an actor and director, known for The Taming of the Shrew (1911), Julius Caesar (1911) and Richard III (1911). He was married to Constance Benson. He died on December 31, 1939 in London, England, UK.
- SpouseConstance Benson(1886 - December 31, 1939) (his death)
- He was awarded the Knight Bachelor of the Order of the British Empire in the 1916 King's Honours List for his services to drama.
- Cousin of actor Basil Rathbone.
- Directed 26 annual Shakespeare festivals at Stratford-on-Avon.
- A celebrated aspect of Benson's life and work was the training of new generations of actors. A touring company paying modest salaries inevitably suffered a constant loss of its leading players to stardom and better pay in the West End, and Benson's company had a continual influx and outflow of actors. In 1913 The Times printed a list of more than 90 "Old Bensonians" - eminent actors and actresses who "learnt their art under the inspiration of Mr Benson".
- He was awarded a civil list pension and retired to Kensington, London, where he died on 31 December 1939, aged 81. After a private funeral he was cremated at Golders Green crematorium. A memorial service at St Martin-in-the-Fields on 12 January 1940, led by the Bishop of London, was attended by large numbers of the theatrical profession, with readings and an address by Old Bensonians.
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