He was born in New York and relocated at an early age to his parents' home in London where he was reared and educated. His mother was actress
Susan Johnstone and his father was
James William Wallack, a theatre producer. He chose a military career but became discouraged and went to
Dublin where he began performing on stage. He remained for two seasons and then went to
Edinburgh. Then, in 1846, he appeared in London at the
Haymarket Theatre under
Benjamin Webster's management. There he was seen by George H. Barrett, who had come to London to engage actors for the
Broadway Theatre, in New York. He made his American debut there in 1847, under the name of John Lester, appearing as Sir Charles Coldstream in
Boucicault's adaptation of
Used Up. His father's brother, Henry Wallack, the father of James William Wallack Jr. (1818–1873), was also in the Broadway Theatre's company. His second appearance was as Viscount de Ligny in
Captain of the Guard by
James Planché. Subsequently, he performed at the
Bowery Theatre,
Burton's Theatre,
Niblo's Garden and the first
Wallack's Theatre. His first appearance at the Bowery Theatre was in 1849 as
Don Caesar de Bazan by
Adolphe d'Ennery and
Philippe Dumanoir. He managed the second Wallack's Theatre from 1861 (demolished in 1901), and in 1882 he opened the third at 30th Street and
Broadway (demolished in 1915). Among the productions staged at the latter was
Margaret Mather's ill-fated production of
Cymbeline in 1897. Another Wallack's Theatre, at 254 West 42nd Street in New York, was named for him in 1924. Wallack joined
The Lambs in 1875, which frequently met at Wallack's Theater. He served as its Shepherd (president): 1878-82, 1884-88, and was one of the founders of the
Actors' Fund of America. His greatest successes were as
Charles Surface, as
Benedick, and especially as Elliot Grey in his own play
Rosedale, and similar light comedy and romantic parts, for which his fascinating manners and handsome person well fitted him. He married a sister (d. 1909) of
Sir John Millais. He wrote his own
Memories of Fifty Years. ==Notes==