JAMES O'NEILL

James O'Neill

James O'Neill

Artistic career

James O'Neill made his stage debut as an extra in Cincinnati, Ohio, manufacturing Collin bawn (1867). In 1871 he moved to Chicago, playing a leading role in the company McVicker, and then in the opposite Hooley's many great stars of the day. Later, he performed with stock companies in New York and San Francisco, and he was considered one of the most promising young actors of his time (www.thegatesofparadise.com).

In 1879 he was selected to play Christ in the production in San Francisco Passion Play by Salmi Morse. The role, resulting in local authorities to arrest ...