William Faversham (born 12 February 1868 in London – d. 7 April 1940 in Bay Shore, Long Island, New York) born William Jones was an English stage and film actor.

Biography

Faversham made his name on Broadway in the role of Algernon in the first American production of The Importance of Being Earnest in 1895. As a teenager in the 1880s he befriended and followed the actor Maurice Barrymore around London when Barrymore, his wife, and their three children visited England in 1884. Faversham idolised Barrymore and tried to imitate him when he began his stage career. Faversham was much admired in such plays such as Brother Officers, Julius Caesar, The Squaw Man, and Othello. He played Romeo to Maude Adams's Juliet. As he aged Faversham continued to take on classic roles and contemporary parts. In the 1930s he tried films appearing in Rouben Mamoulian's Technicolor version of Becky Sharp in 1935

Faversham was married three times. His first wife was Marian Merwin. His second wife was the actress Julie Opp who bore him two sons, William Jr. and Philip (1907-1982). She had previously been married to Robert Loraine. She died in 1921. Lastly, Faversham was married to Edith Campbell.