J. P. Wilson papers

1901-1958

English character actor J. P. Wilson, known to friends and family as Josh, began his stage career in England where he toured for six years with Sir Frank Benson, and later appeared in a number of plays in the United States. Among J. P. Wilson's American stage credits were THE MERCHANT OF VENICE with Walter Hampden and Ethel Barrymore, ESCAPE with Leslie Howard, THE LAKE with Katharine Hepburn, MAGGIE THE MAGNIFICENT with James Cagney and Joan Blondell, and PYGMALION with Gertrude Lawrence and Raymond Massey. Consists primarily of letters to actor J. P. Wilson. Two letters to Wilson were written by Sir Frank Benson, with whom he toured England in his early professional days. Actor Walter Hampden, with whom Wilson had worked on stage, wrote him on June 5, 1955, six days prior to Hampden's own fatal stroke. Hampden speaks of his role in the new Lana Turner film DIANE at MGM, a role which was taken by Cedric Hardwicke after Hampden's death. Hampden's widow Mabel thanks Wilson for his condolence note. Also includes a few photographs, a menu, and a program for a 1901 cricket match.