Josephine Hoey

Josephine Hoey (née Shaw; c. 1822–1896) was an Anglo-American stage actress.

Portrait by the Mathew Brady studio (c. 1860–70)

Life

Josephine was born in Liverpool, England, in June, 1824. She was the eldest of four sisters, whose maiden names were Shaw, and together with them and her brother began her public life as a ballad singer in various museums.

After her marriage with William H. Russell in 1839, she appeared in small parts at the National Theatre in New York, and thereafter became a stock actress in other places. In 1849 she was connected with Burton's Chambers Street Theatre, and from 1854 was a conspicuous member of Wallack's Theatre, New York. During a brief interval in 1857 she was also seen at the Walnut Street Theatre in Philadelphia. Her last performances were at Wallack's Theatre.

In 1847 she was divorced from her husband, and two years later she married John Hoey, manager of Adams Express Company, New York City. Although her manner was somewhat cold and artificial, she was popular in high-comedy parts.

She died in Hollywood, Los Angeles on July 21, 1896.

References

• Wilson, J. G.; Fiske, J., eds. (1892). "Hoey, Josephine" . Appletons' Cyclopædia of American Biography. Vol. 3. New York: D. Appleton. p. 226. This article incorporates text from this source, which is in the public domain.
• "Mrs. Hoey Dead at Hollywood.; A Noted Actress Before Marrying the Late Express President". The New York Times. July 22, 1896. p. 5.