Early life and career Tearle was born in
Plymouth on 8 March 1852, son of George Tearle, a colour sergeant in the
Royal Marines, and his wife Susan Lavers Treneman. After serving in the Crimean and China wars his father retired on pension to
Liverpool. Educated there at
St Francis Xavier's College, Tearle took part in amateur theatricals, and in 1868 in
penny readings with
Hall Caine. Inspired by
Barry Sullivan's acting, he took to the stage, making his debut at the Adelphi Theatre, Liverpool, in March 1869, as
Guildenstern to Adelaide Ross's
Hamlet. In 1870, on Sullivan's recommendation, he became leading man at the Theatre Royal,
Aberdeen. At
Warrington in 1871 he appeared for the first time as Hamlet, a character which he played in all some 800 times. Early in 1874 he was a prominent and popular member of the
stock company in
Belfast. After six years appearing in the provinces he made his first appearance in London at the
Gaiety Theatre in March 1875 as George de Buissy in
Campbell Clarke's unsuccessful adaptation of
Rose Michel, subsequently playing there Charles Courtly in
London Assurance. Beginning in May of that year, he played Hamlet at the Rotunda Theatre, Liverpool, for eighteen successive nights. Afterwards he toured with
Mrs. John Wood's old comedy company as Charles Surface in
The School for Scandal and Young Marlow in
She Stoops to Conquer.
In America At
Darlington in 1877 Tearle started with his own travelling company. In September 1880 he made his American debut at
Wallack's Theatre, New York, as Jacques in
As You Like It, and he remained there as leading actor of the stock company. After spending the summer of 1882 in England, he reappeared in April 1883 at the Star Theatre, New York, as Hamlet, and subsequently toured in the United States as Wilfred Denver in
The Silver King.
Shakespearean touring company In 1888 he returned to England and organised his Shakespearean touring company. In 1889, and again in 1890, he conducted the festival performances at
Stratford-upon-Avon, producing in the first year
Julius Caesar and
Henry VI, part 1, in which he played Talbot, and in the second year
King John and
The Two Gentlemen of Verona. His travelling company changed its bill nightly, and had a repertory of thirteen plays. It was deemed an excellent training ground for the stage novice. Tearle last appeared in London at
Terry's Theatre in July 1898 as Charles Surface to
Kate Vaughan's Lady Teazle. His last appearance on the stage was at Carlisle in August 1901, as Richelieu. He died on 7 September 1901 in
Byker, Newcastle-on-Tyne, and was buried beside his second wife at
Whitley Bay, Northumberland. ==Commentary==