Charles Groves (actor)
Charles Groves (6 December 1843 − 8 July 1909) was an Irish-born, British stage actor of the Victorian era, associated with his work in comedy in London's West End and on Broadway.
He made his London debut on Boxing Day, 1871 at the Covent Garden Theatre (today the Royal Opera House) as Lebeau in the farce The Lost Letter[2] and as Sister Anne in the pantomime Blue Beard.
[1] In 1881 Groves toured the United States, engaged by the D'Oyly Carte Opera Company in Billee Taylor as Sir Mincing Lane.
[7] The Queen wrote enthusiastically about the event in her journal later that night: "We all went over to the Waterloo Gallery to see a performance of the play, A Pair of Spectacles, which was extremely good.
[9] He returned to the role of Gregory Goldfinch in A Pair of Spectacles throughout the 1900s, and was engaged to perform on a final tour to mark Sir John Hare's retirement in 1907.
On 14 November a performance of the play was given at Windsor Castle in the presence of King Edward VII, Queen Alexandra, the German Kaiser, and the Prince and Princess of Wales.
His market price, owing largely to his modesty, was never commensurate with his artistic value; and I question whether any office would have insured so frail a life... the public is under a debt of gratitude to Charles Groves."
