This unusual looking gentleman is an English actor and theatre manager named John Hare. John Hare (1844-1921) was born in a town called “Giggleswick”. This is an appropriate name for the birthplace for a man who began his acting career in comic roles. Giggleswick was located in Yorkshire, England. Hare began his acting career in Liverpool in 1864. He is often associated with the plays of T. W. Robertson. Hare managed the Court Theatre (1875-1879), the St. James Theatre (1879-1888), and the Garrick Theatre (1889-1895). His greatest success as an actor was in the play A Pair of Spectacles (1890). This portrait of John Hare likely captures the actor in wardrobe and makeup for one of his productions. However, it is possible that he aged poorly which can be hypothesized because photographs taken of the actor in earlier years show a man with a significantly more pleasing appearance.
