author
Cavendish Morton
A colorful figure from early 20th-century theater, he brought together acting, photography, and design in a career that moved easily between stage and screen. He is also remembered as the author of practical books on theatrical make-up and film performance.
1 Audiobook
The Art of Theatrical Make-up
by Cavendish Morton
About the author
Born in New York City in 1874 to British parents, Cavendish Morton built a varied creative career as an actor, photographer, and art director. He made his stage debut in New York, later moved to London in the late 1890s, and worked with major theater companies including those of Charles Wyndham and H. Beerbohm Tree.
Morton was closely connected with the visual side of performance as well as acting itself. Alongside his stage work, he became known for photography and art direction, and he wrote books including The Art of Theatrical Make-up (1909) and Cinema Acting, reflecting his practical interest in how performers were presented on stage and in early film.
He died in 1939. Today, he stands out as one of those early entertainment-world figures whose work crossed several disciplines at once, linking performance, image-making, and theatrical craft.