CINEFILER

Laurence Hanray

Born
May 15, 1874
Died
November 28, 1947
Laurence Hanray (16 May 1874 – 28 November 1947), sometimes credited as Lawrence Hanray, was a British film and theatre actor born in London, England. He is also credited as the author of several plays and music hall songs. Laurence Hanray was born Lawrence Henry Jacobs in St John's Wood on 16 May 1874, the son of Angelo Jacobs (c. 1851-1910), a glass manufacturer, and Leah (née Nathan; 1850/1851 - 1946). His father changed his name to Angelo Jacobs Hanray, and with it the family name, after becoming bankrupt in 1897, although Laurence had been using the name Hanray professionally from at least 1892, when he appeared as a member of the Hermann Vezin Theatre Company in supporting roles in Hamlet and Macbeth at Her Majesties Theatre, Dundee. Australian newspapers show he was in Australia and New Zealand from around 1901-04, appearing as Carraway Bones the undertaker in the farce Turned Up at the Theatre Royal, Perth, in May 1901, and subsequently at most of the main cities until June 1904. Travel records show him departing Sydney for Auckland in August 1901, and sailing from Sydney for London on 7 October 1904. He then resumed touring in Britain. In the 1911 census, Laurence Hanray (36), actor, is listed as residing at the Woolton Hall Hydropathic Hotel, Much Woolton, Lancashire, England. Hanray married Dorothy Mary Chambers Farnsworth (1884-1918) in the Birkenhead district during the first quarter of 1914. She petitioned for divorce in 1917, but then died suddenly in London on 16 August 1918. Hanray married Lois Grace Heatherley (1892-1966) in Paddington during the same quarter his first wife died. Lois was also an actress and performed with Laurence at the Booth Theatre, Broadway, in 1921. They were also together in The Faithful Heart, she as Ginger and Laurence as Major Lestrade, at the Comedy Theatre, Haymarket. Travel records then show the couple arriving in New York in September 1922. He appeared in John Galsworthy's play Loyalties at the Gaeity Theatre on Broadway. They arrived in Liverpool in May 1923. The couple also played together in Escape at the Booth Theatre, Broadway in 1927, she as Miss Grace and he in multiple roles (the Fellow Convict, the Old Gentleman and the Farmer). Laurence and Lois had a daughter, Ursula Susan Edith Hanray, on 16 November 1923. According to travel records, the family visited America from September 1927. Laurence also went on his own to Canada in September 1931, and also during 1939-1940. Ursula became a child actress, playing the title role in the first televised production of Alice Through The Looking Glass in 1937, and the young Queen Victoria in a London theatre in 1940. Hanray worked almost up to his death; The Times reported in early September 1947 that he was to appear in a play at Dunfermline Abbey Theatre. He died at age 73 on 28 November 1947, following an operation at the Middlesex Hospital, London. Lois Grace Hanray died aged 74 on 25 April 1966.
Known For
The Private Life of Henry VIII
(1933)
Archbishop Cranmer
Full Filmography
Acting
Beyond the Cities
(1930)
Gregory Hayes
Her Reputation
(1931)
Mr. Montgomery
There Goes the Bride
(1932)
Police Chief (uncredited)
The Faithful Heart
(1932)
Major Ango
Wedding Rehearsal
(1932)
News editor
Love on Wheels
(1932)
Gallop's Commissionaire
Leap Year
(1932)
Hope
That Night in London
(1932)
Ribbles
The Man from Toronto
(1933)
Duncan
The Private Life of Henry VIII
(1933)
Archbishop Cranmer
This Week of Grace
(1933)
Lawyer Cowlber
Loyalties
(1933)
Jacob Twisden
His Grace Gives Notice
(1933)
Mr Greyling
The Good Companions
(1933)
Mr. James Tarvin
What Happened Then?
(1934)
Dr. Bristol
Lorna Doone
(1934)
Parson Bowden
The Rise of Catherine the Great
(1934)
Goudovitch
Those Were the Days
(1934)
Wormington
Chu Chin Chow
(1934)
Kasim Baba
The Great Defender
(1934)
Parker
Adventure Ltd.
(1935)
Simon Ledbury
Murder at Monte Carlo
(1935)
Collum
Mimi
(1935)
Barbemouche
Street Song
(1935)
Tuttle
Drake of England
(1935)
Minor role
Brewster's Millions
(1935)
Grant
Someone at the Door
(1936)
Poole
Rembrandt
(1936)
Heertsbeeke
Beloved Impostor
(1936)
Arthur
The Three Maxims
(1936)
Thomas
The Man Who Could Work Miracles
(1936)
Mr. Bamfylde
Lonely Road
(1936)
Jenkinson
Whom the Gods Love: The Original Story of Mozart and His Wife
(1936)
Archbishop of Salzburg
Knight Without Armour
(1937)
Forrester
Midnight Menace
(1937)
Sir George, Lead Conspirator
The Last Chance
(1937)
Mr. Perrin
Action for Slander
(1937)
Clerk of Court (as Lawrence Hanray)
The Girl in the Taxi
(1937)
Charencey
It's Never Too Late to Mend
(1937)
Lawyer Crawley
Dark Journey
(1937)
Cottin
Moonlight Sonata
(1937)
Mr. Bishop
Fire Over England
(1937)
French Ambassador
Smash and Grab
(1937)
Praskins (as Laurence Hanray)
Julius Caesar
(1938)
Casca
A Royal Divorce
(1938)
Klemens von Metternich
Many Waters
(1938)
21 Days Together
(1940)
Solicitor
The Ghost of St. Michael's
(1941)
Clerk of Court
Quiet Wedding
(1941)
Mr. Williamson
Old Mother Riley's Circus
(1941)
Cheddar, KC
Hatter's Castle
(1942)
Dr. Lawrie
My Learned Friend
(1943)
Sir Norman
Hotel Reserve
(1944)
Police Commissioner
On Approval
(1944)
Parkes
Love Story
(1944)
Angus Rossiter
Waterloo Road
(1945)
Read All About It
(1945)
Bostock
Mine Own Executioner
(1947)
Dr. Lefage
The Life and Adventures of Nicholas Nickleby
(1947)
Mr. Gride
Data provided by TMDB