Laurence Hanray
Laurence Hanray
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 Acting
Most Rating 5.984
Birthday 1874-05-15
Place of Birth Hampstead, London, England, UK
Also Known As Lawrence Hanray, Lawrence Henry Jacobs,
Leap Year
1932

Leap Year

His Grace Gives Notice
1933

His Grace Gives Notice

The Private Life of Henry VIII
1933

The Private Life of Henry VIII

Hatter's Castle
1942

Hatter's Castle

Many Waters
1938

Many Waters

My Learned Friend
1943

My Learned Friend

It's Never Too Late to Mend
1937

It's Never Too Late to Mend

Murder at Monte Carlo
1935

Murder at Monte Carlo

Moonlight Sonata
1937

Moonlight Sonata

The Three Maxims
1936

The Three Maxims

Love Story
1944

Love Story

On Approval
1944

On Approval

Julius Caesar
1938

Julius Caesar

The Man from Toronto
1933

The Man from Toronto

Wedding Rehearsal
1932

Wedding Rehearsal

Action for Slander
1937

Action for Slander

The Girl in the Taxi
1937

The Girl in the Taxi

The Good Companions
1933

The Good Companions

The Last Chance
1937

The Last Chance

The Man Who Could Work Miracles
1936

The Man Who Could Work Miracles

Mine Own Executioner
1947

Mine Own Executioner

Midnight Menace
1937

Midnight Menace

The Great Defender
1934

The Great Defender

21 Days Together
1940

21 Days Together

Those Were the Days
1934

Those Were the Days

Someone at the Door
1936

Someone at the Door

Loyalties
1933

Loyalties

Chu Chin Chow
1934

Chu Chin Chow

Knight Without Armour
1937

Knight Without Armour

Lonely Road
1936

Lonely Road

Lorna Doone
1934

Lorna Doone

Whom the Gods Love: The Original Story of Mozart and His Wife
1936

Whom the Gods Love: The Original Story of Mozart and His Wife

Drake of England
1935

Drake of England

Brewster's Millions
1935

Brewster's Millions

Mimi
1935

Mimi

Love on Wheels
1932

Love on Wheels

What Happened Then?
1934

What Happened Then?

Quiet Wedding
1941

Quiet Wedding

The Ghost of St. Michael's
1941

The Ghost of St. Michael's

Hotel Reserve
1944

Hotel Reserve

Beyond the Cities
1930

Beyond the Cities

Dark Journey
1937

Dark Journey

Street Song
1935

Street Song

Adventure Ltd.
1935

Adventure Ltd.

Her Reputation
1931

Her Reputation

That Night in London
1932

That Night in London

Beloved Impostor
1936

Beloved Impostor

The Faithful Heart
1932

The Faithful Heart

Fire Over England
1937

Fire Over England

This Week of Grace
1933

This Week of Grace

The Rise of Catherine the Great
1934

The Rise of Catherine the Great

Read All About It
1945

Read All About It

Smash and Grab
1937

Smash and Grab

A Royal Divorce
1938

A Royal Divorce

There Goes the Bride
1932

There Goes the Bride

Waterloo Road
1945

Waterloo Road

Old Mother Riley's Circus
1941

Old Mother Riley's Circus

Rembrandt
1936

Rembrandt

The Life and Adventures of Nicholas Nickleby
1947

The Life and Adventures of Nicholas Nickleby