James Keteltas Hackett.
James Keteltas Hackett, one of the youngest of the prominent actors of America, and certainly the youngest actor-manager of note in this country, was born at Wolfe Island, Ontario, Canada, September 6, 1869. He is the son of the late James Henry Hackett, who in his time was also a notable figure of the American boards. After graduating from the College of the City of New York in 1891, he studied in the New York law school, but his inclination for the stage, which manifested itself almost as soon as he could talk, became more and more marked, and, abandoning the legal career which it had been intended he should follow, he gave himself up to studying for the stage. In 1892 he made his début in New York in the A. M. Palmer stock company. From the very first he gave unmistakable indications of his subsequent success. In four years—being then twenty-six years of age—he was leading man of the company in question, and was a star in the dramatic firmament of New York. From that time on his progress in his chosen profession has been unceasing. For some years he was under the management of Mr. Daniel Frohman, during which period he made distinctive hits in The Prisoner of Zenda and its sequel, Rupert of Hentzau, and The Pride of Jennico. Leaving Mr. Frohman’s management, he branched out for himself. As already intimated, he is as successful as he is popular. He married Mary Mannering, a well-known actress, whom he met during his association with the Frohman forces.