William James O' Shea (6 October 1856 – 5 November 1918) was a Scottish-born actor. He was born in Dumfries, Scotland and was brought to the United States when he was one-year old. His father, Thomas Shea, was a civil engineer [1] who fought with David Farragut in the Battle of New Orleans during the American Civil War.[2]

William Shea
Shea at left in Chumps (1912)
Born6 October 1856
Dumfries, Scotland
Died5 November 1918(1918-11-05) (aged 62)
Brooklyn, United States
OccupationActor
Years active1905-1918

Shea got his start acting at the age of 18 in Col. John W. Albaugh's stock company in Albany, New York. During the 1880s, he also became known as an Irish dancer and singer.[3] He was said to be the first real actor Vitagraph ever hired, having appeared over 4,000 roles [4] in more than one hundred films from 1905 to 1918.

Shea died of heart disease at his home on November 5, 1918.[5] Obituaries at the time listed Shea as the oldest movie actor in the United States, although most list his age at time of death as 56 years old.[6] Shea is buried in Holy Cross Cemetery, Brooklyn.[7]

Selected filmography

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Year Title Role Notes
1908 Romeo and Juliet Peter
1909 A Midsummer Night's Dream
1911 A Tale of Two Cities Jarvis Lorry
The Child Crusoes
1912 As You Like It
1913 The Doctor's Secret
1914 Hearts and Diamonds Uncle William
1916 My Lady's Slipper Bucknail(per Variety)
The Blue Envelope Mystery George
1920 A Daughter of Two Worlds Slim Jackson
Headin' Home

References

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  1. ^ "William J. Shea", "New York Herald", November 6, 1918, https://www.newspapers.com/clip/80355691/
  2. ^ "William J. Shea", The Standard Union, November 6, 1918, https://www.newspapers.com/clip/80356049/
  3. ^ New York Herald
  4. ^ "W.J. Shea, Movie Actor Dies," The Bangor Daily News, November 8, 1918, https://www.newspapers.com/clip/80357537/
  5. ^ New York Herald
  6. ^ "William J. Shea, Oldest Movie Actor in the U.S., Dies", The Boston Globe, November 6, 1918, https://www.newspapers.com/clip/80358160/
  7. ^ 'Shea" The Brooklyn Daily Eagle, November 8, 1918, https://www.newspapers.com/clip/80358542/
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