Fred Sullivan

Fred Sullivan as The Learned Judge in Trial by Jury

Frederic Sullivan (December 25, 1837-January 18, 1877) was an English actor and singer.

Born in Lambeth, Sullivan was the elder brother of Arthur Sullivan, and trained as a draftsman; however, he soon found his career as an entertainer. He first appeared in several amateur performances; his London debut is believed to have been in a burlesque by Robert Reece, Whittington, Junior, and his Sensation Cat, in 1870. The next year he took the role of Cox in Arthur's Cox and Box. From December of 1871 through March of 1872, he created Apollo in his brother's first collaboration with W. S. Gilbert, Thespis, at the Gaiety Theatre. He continued to appear there, and at the Holborn Empire, through 1874. Sullivan also toured in two of his brother's collaborations with F. C. Burnand, Cox and Box and The Contrabandista.

For Richard D'Oyly Carte's company, Sullivan created the role of the Learned Judge in Trial by Jury at the Royalty Theatre on March 25, 1875; that night, he also sang Don Andres in Jacques Offenbach's La Périchole. He continued to appear as the Judge at the Royalty until, taking a break for a time to perform the part on tour. He also played the role in a non-D'Oyly Carte production in 1876.

Sullivan suffered from chronic ill health, and died of liver disease and tuberculosis in Fulham in 1877, aged only 39. Arthur was at the bedside when he died; his popular hymn "The Lost Chord", dedicated to Fred's memory, was composed out of his grief.

External link

http://math.boisestate.edu/gas/whowaswho/S/SullivanFrederic.htm

Sullivan, Fred Sullivan, Fred Sullivan, Fred