Laurence Hanray
Laurence Hanray
Biography
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
Personal Info
Known For
Acting
Known Credits
60
Gender
Male
Birthday
1874-05-15 (151 years old)
Place of Birth
Hampstead, London, England, UK
Acting

1947

Mine Own Executioner as Dr. Lefage

1945

Waterloo Road as Not available

1945

Read All About It as Bostock

1944

On Approval as Parkes

1944

Love Story as Angus Rossiter

1944

Hotel Reserve as Police Commissioner

1943

My Learned Friend as Sir Norman

1942

Hatter's Castle as Dr. Lawrie

1942

Let the People Sing as Not available

1941

The Ghost of St. Michael's as Clerk of Court

1941

Quiet Wedding as Mr. Williamson

1941

Old Mother Riley's Circus as Cheddar, KC

1940

21 Days Together as Solicitor

1938

Julius Caesar as Casca

1938

A Royal Divorce as Klemens von Metternich

1938

Many Waters as Not available

1937

Fire Over England as French Ambassador

1937

Dark Journey as Cottin

1937

Knight Without Armour as Forrester

1937

Action for Slander as Clerk of Court (as Lawrence Hanray)

1937

Moonlight Sonata as Mr. Bishop

1937

It's Never Too Late to Mend as Lawyer Crawley

1937

The Last Chance as Mr. Perrin

1937

Midnight Menace as Sir George, Lead Conspirator

1937

The Girl in the Taxi as Charencey

1937

Smash and Grab as Praskins (as Laurence Hanray)

1936

Rembrandt as Heertsbeeke

1936

The Man Who Could Work Miracles as Mr. Bamfylde

1936

The Three Maxims as Thomas

1936

Lonely Road as Jenkinson

1936

Beloved Impostor as Arthur

1936

Someone at the Door as Poole

1935

Murder at Monte Carlo as Collum

1935

Mimi as Barbemouche

1935

Brewster's Millions as Grant

1935

Drake of England as Minor role

1935

Adventure Ltd. as Simon Ledbury

1935

Street Song as Tuttle

1934

Lorna Doone as Parson Bowden

1934

Chu Chin Chow as Kasim Baba

1934

Those Were the Days as Wormington

1934

The Great Defender as Parker

1934

What Happened Then? as Dr. Bristol

1933

The Private Life of Henry VIII as Archbishop Cranmer

1933

The Man from Toronto as Duncan

1933

Loyalties as Jacob Twisden

1933

The Good Companions as Mr. James Tarvin

1933

This Week of Grace as Lawyer Cowlber

1933

His Grace Gives Notice as Mr Greyling

1932

The Faithful Heart as Major Ango

1932

There Goes the Bride as Police Chief (uncredited)

1932

That Night in London as Ribbles

1932

Love on Wheels as Gallop's Commissionaire

1932

Leap Year as Hope

1932

Wedding Rehearsal as News editor

1931

Her Reputation as Mr. Montgomery

1930

Beyond the Cities as Gregory Hayes