As a stage actor he primarily appeared in light operas and musicals; notably portraying Sir Joseph Porter in the original production of John Philip Sousa's pirated version of Gilbert and Sullivan's H.M.S.
As a dramatist he mainly wrote the books for musicals; often in collaboration with writer Edgar Smith on projects created for the comedy duo Lew Fields and Joe Weber.
Pinafore; a production which had begun its life at Philadelphia's Horticultural Hall and then moved to that city's Walnut Street Theatre before coming to New York and touring throughout 1879.
[7] After this he toured the United States as a member of various light opera companies in the 1880s and 1890s; including those of Charles Pyke (the husband of Alice Nielsen)[8] and Rudolph Aronson.
Several of his plays were musicals for which he wrote the books in collaboration with other writers and composers; most especially Edgar Smith on projects created for the comedy duo Lew Fields and Joe Weber.
[20] At the age of fifty, Louis De Lange was found dead in his room at the Mock's Hotel in New York City on March 13, 1906.