John Clayton (British actor)

John Clayton's seven siblings included J. G. Calthrop, coroner for South Lincolnshire, Edward, a London physician, and Claude, a prize-winning painter and Royal Academician.

[2][3][4][5] After some successful amateur experiences he made his first professional appearance on the stage on 27 February 1866, at the St James's Theatre, as George Hastings in She Stoops to Conquer.

[7] He joined the company at the Gaiety Theatre in March 1869, appearing there in T. W. Robertson's comedy Dreams, The Old Score, A Life Chase, and Uncle Dick's Darling, in the last of which he played Joe Lennare to the Dollond of J. L. Toole and the Chevenix of Henry Irving.

[7] In July 1872 Clayton played Joseph Surface in a long-running revival of The School for Scandal at the Vaudeville Theatre, after which he made a mark as the distraught father in an adaptation of Sandeau and Decourcelle's Marcel.

[8] While it was being built Clayton led a provincial touring company, presenting The Magistrate and Dandy Dick, gaining excellent reviews and good houses.

[15] He was buried at Brompton Cemetery at a service attended by many leading figures from the theatrical profession, including Cecil, Pinero, Mrs John Wood, W. S. Gilbert, Squire Bancroft, W. H. Kendal, Brandon Thomas, Johnston Forbes Robertson, George Grossmith and Oscar Wilde.