Johnny Danvers

Johnny Danvers (born John Danvers Harold; December 1860 – 1 April 1939) was an English actor, comedian and music hall performer who made a number of appearances in the annual pantomime at the Theatre Royal, Drury Lane in the late 19th and early 20th-centuries, usually with his nephew Dan Leno.

Danvers was born in Sheffield, Yorkshire, to Charles Dutton Harold (1843-1880) and Elizabeth Ann (née Calow; 1848-1894).

[4] Tired of surviving on little or no money, Henry took up a trade in London and was replaced intermittently in the act by Danvers, who was the boys' uncle.

In 1905 Danvers played King Ivory of Oddland in the Drury Lane pantomime The White Cat, Snap in Cinderella in 1906, a Robber in Babes in The Wood in 1907, and Alderman in Dick Whittington in 1908.

(1922) at the Golders Green Hippodrome;[21] Count Hogginarmo in the pantomime The Rose and the Ring at Wyndham's Theatre (1923);[22] and 'Old Bill' in Bruce Bairnsfather's musical comedy Carry On Sergeant!

[23] The show failed, running for only 35 performances and with Danvers described as "an excellent Old Bill and his cheery optimism and broad good humour kept things from flagging at several awkward moments.

Sheetmusic cover for "Mc.Fadden Learning to Waltz", sung by Danvers ( c. 1890)
Arthur Gallimore, Johnny Danvers and F. Lynne in blackface with Moore & Burgess's Minstrels c. 1901
Dan Leno (top) and Johnny Danvers, c. 1900, with Drury Lane co-star Herbert Campbell (bottom)