In the early 1860s he supported Adah Isaacs Menken and won acclaim for his first Hamlet performed before Virginia City, Nevada, audiences.

[4] He won applause in some classic roles, but his first great success was as Badger in The Streets of New York, in which he appeared in Boston in August 1865.

His daughter, Deronda Mayo, also acted, including being a member of the 1901 summer stock cast at the Elitch Theatre.

While returning to New York from this Western trip, the sudden death of this splendid actor occurred as his train neared Omaha.

"[7] He is buried in West Laurel Hill Cemetery, Edgewood Section, Plot 299, in Bala Cynwyd, Pennsylvania.