Clare Eames


Clare Eames was an American actress and stage director, and the first wife of playwright Sidney Howard.

Early years

Eames was born August 5, 1894 in Hartford, Connecticut, the daughter of Clare and Hayden Eames. Her maternal grandfather was Maryland governor and senator William Thomas Hamilton. Her aunt was American soprano Emma Eames.
Eames' family moved to Cleveland, Ohio when she was 11 years old. From there, she went to Paris to live with her aunt and studied drama. She attended the American Academy of Dramatic Arts.

Career

In 1919, Eames joined the repertory theatre headed by Ethel Barrymore.
After World War I, Eames was considered one of the leading new female lights of the Broadway stage, performing classical roles in plays by Shakespeare and George Bernard Shaw. She made her stage debut in 1918. As a virtual unknown on Broadway, she won acclaim for her performance as the young Princess Elizabeth in a 1920 stage adaptation of Mark Twain's The Prince and the Pauper. After her starring role in John Drinkwater's one-act play Mary Stuart, Eames quickly rose to the top rank in the American theatre.
Eames made a handful of silent pictures, but died before having the opportunity to appear in sound films.

Personal life

Eames was engaged to Lieutenant Philip Livingston Rose, who was killed in action on October 6, 1918.
In 1922 Eames married playwright Sidney Howard. He divorced her in March 1930 after she had moved to England. He was awarded custody of their young daughter Clare, later known as Jennifer Howard.

Death

She died November 8, 1930 at a hospital in Richmond, London, England, following surgery. She was 36.

Theatre credits

DateTitleRoleNotes
April–May 1918The Big SceneGreenwich Village Theatre, New York City
October 6, 1919 – May 1920DéclasséeLady WilderingEmpire Theatre, New York City
November 1, 1920 – March 1921The Prince and the PauperPrincess ElizabethBooth Theatre, New York City
March 21 – April 1921Mary StuartMary StuartRitz Theatre, New York City
March 21 – April 1921Man About TownRitz Theatre, New York City
September 1–?, 1921SwordsFiammaNational Theatre, New York City
March 13 – April 1922The First Fifty YearsAnn WellsPrincess Theatre, New York City
November 1923The Spook SonataThe MummyProvincetown Playhouse, New York City
February 3 – June 1924FashionMrs. TiffanyProvincetown Playhouse, New York City
March 15 – April 1924MacbethLady Macbeth48th Street Theatre, New York City
May 16–?, 1924Hedda GablerHedda Tesman48th Street Theatre, New York City
September 27 – November 1924The Little AngelSarah BornemisszaFrazee Theatre, New York City
December 24, 1924 – April 1925CandidaMiss Proserpine Garnett48th Street Theatre, New York City
February 24 – May 1925The Wild DuckDirector
48th Street Theatre, New York City
October 21 – November 14, 1925Lucky Sam McCarverCarlotta AshePlayhouse Theatre, New York City
November 23, 1925 – January 1926Androcles and the LionLaviniaKlaw Theatre, New York City
November 23, 1925 – January 1926The Man of DestinyThe LadyKlaw Theatre, New York City
February 2–?, 1926Little EyolfMrs. Rita AllmersGuild Theatre, New York City
October 11 – November 1926Juarez and MaximillianCarlottaGuild Theatre, New York City
November 29, 1926 – April 1927Ned McCobb's DaughterCarrie CallahanJohn Golden Theatre, New York City
January 3 – February 1927The Brother KaramozovKaterina Ivanova VerhovovtsevaGuild Theatre, New York City
September 13, 1927 – ?The Silver CordChristinaSt Martin's Theatre, London
January 22–23, 1928The Unquiet SpiritMarcelineApollo Theatre, London
November 19 – December 10, 1928The Sacred FlameNurse WaylandHenry Miller's Theatre, New York City
January 28 – April 12, 1930MilestonesGertrude RheadCriterion Theatre, London
July 2–6, 1930The Procurator of JudeaProducer
Little Theatre, London
August 27–30, 1930John o' DreamsProducer
Regent Theatre, London

Filmography