ACTOR’S DEATH

Sun (Auckland), Volume IV, Issue 1040, 2 August 1930, Page 24

ACTOR’S DEATH

Sydney Stirling and the Parts He Played APPEARED WITH NELLIE STEWART The death is announced from Sydney of Sydney Stirling, the well-known acton He frequently toured New Zealand in the past. Mr. Stirling was an English actor, born in Hull, who made his mark in Australia, when he went there 28 years ago. as a member of the cast of George Musgrove’s company supporting Nellie Stewart in “Sweet Nell of Old Drury," and other plays. In that production, in which Harcourt Beatty made his first Sydney appearance in the role of King Charles, Mr. Stirling attracted atteu tion in a competent cast by his easy manner and -artistic sense as a man of fashion of the period. Lord Lovelace. Other prominent figures in this play, at the Theatre Royal, were Albert Gran as Jeffreys, the celebrated judge: Gordon Bailey as Sir Roger Fairfax; and Webster Lawson as Rochester. Wheii the company played a return season in July, 1903, Madeleine Lucette Rylcy’s romantic comedy, “Mice and Men” was produced, with Mr. Stirling as Captain George Lovell to the Peggy of Nellie Stewart and the Mark Embury of Harcourt Beatty. C. B. Westmacott, now general manager of J. C. Williamson, Ltd.), was manager of the company, and after an absence of several years from tho stage appeared as John Bowlby in that season in a production of “A Country Mouse.” Mr. Stirling later visited America, and returned under the J. C. Williamson management to the company supporting Margaret Anglin in her Australian tour in “The Thief” and other plays. He was also with Julius Knight in several pieces, and ho played in Fred Niblo’s companies, notably in “Broadway Jones,” and "Officer C6fi.” His last role was Van Tuyl, in the Melbourne production of “Romance,” with Nellie Stewart. Mr. Stirling played the part of tho wealthy shipowner in “New Moon” in the season of that piece In Sydney, beginning in January last, and would have appeared in the coming Melbourne production but for his fatal illness. He was a conscientious and sound actor, whose work showed that he had minutely studied every detail of whatever role he filled.