Sydney Deane


Sydney Leslie Deane was a first-class cricketer and entertainer, and the first Australian to appear in a Hollywood movie.

Biography

Born in Balmain, Sydney, to Edward and Sophia, Deane was a promising junior Rugby Union player and represented New South Wales against Queensland. Along with his cousins, Australian Test captain Billy Murdoch and Norman Deane, who played first-class cricket for New South Wales, Deane also excelled in cricket, and made his first-class debut for New South Wales, against Victoria, at the Association Ground, Sydney on 25 January 1890. A wicket-keeper, Deane held six catches, at that time an Australian first-class record and caught the attention of the selectors for the Australian squad for the upcoming Ashes tour of Britain. In the next match, against South Australia, Deane also performed well, and starred in a non-first-class match against a Queensland XV.
On 19 February 1890, Deane was selected in the Australian cricket squad. However, the Victorian members of the squad protested against Deane's inclusion, arguing that it was favouritism towards New South Wales. Victorian wicket keeper Jack Blackham, a key member of the Australian side, went as far as to threaten to boycott the tour if Deane was selected ahead of fellow Victorian Jack Harry. Eventually a compromise wicket keeper, Tasmanian Kenneth Burn was selected, although Burn had never kept wicket in his life.
Following the Test selection drama, Deane moved to Melbourne after accepting an offer to appear with J.C. Williamson's theatrical troupe. Deane "possessed a magnificant tenor voice" and quickly became a leading performer around Australia and New Zealand, appearing in Gilbert and Sullivan operettas such as The Gondoliers. Deane also moved into theatre production management, co-founding and managing the Elite Vaudeville Company, which ran a number of productions starring Deane, including a farce based on Trilby entitled Trill-B!, in which Deane played the character of Sven-Garlic.
He also continued to play cricket, and although unable to break into the Victorian side, due to the presence of Blackham, Deane represented East Melbourne against an English touring side in 1892.
Deane left Australia for the United States of America in the late 1890s, where he soon became a leading Vaudeville entertainer, appearing on Broadway musicals, including the original cast of Florodora, which ran for 553 performances, The Woggle-Bug,, The Knickerbocker Girl and My Lady Molly.
Impressed by his acting ability, Jesse L. Lasky recruited Deane to join the Jesse L. Lasky Feature Play Company, which relocated to Hollywood to produce films. Deane made his film debut in 1914 in the original version of Brewster's Millions, which was Cecil B. DeMille's second film. Deane appeared in a number of DeMille's early films before signing a contract with Universal Pictures, where he appeared in movies alongside Lon Chaney Sr..
While acting, Deane continued to play cricket, firstly in New York for the "New York Veterans" and later in California, where he played into his late fifties.
Deane's final film appearance was in the 1924 film America, directed by D.W. Griffith, after which he retired to New York, where he died, aged 71. Unusually for an actor and cricketer of his significance, neither Variety or Wisden ran his obituary.

Filmography

TitleYearRoleNotes
Brewster's Millions1914Jonas Sedgwick
The Call of the North1914McTavish
The Virginian1914Uncle Hughey
The Making of Bobby Burnit1914Silas Trimmeraka Bobby Burnit
What's His Name1914Uncle Peter
Ready Money1914Owner of the Skyrocket
Rose of the Rancho1914Ranch Owner
The Girl of the Golden West1915Sidney Duck
The Goose Girl1915Prince Regent of Jugendheit
The Warrens of Virginia1915General Harding
A Gentleman of Leisure1915Sir Thomas Blunt
Stolen Goods1915Mr. North
The Arab1915Dr. Hilbert
The Secret Orchard1915Nanette's father
The Scarlet Chastity1916
Playthings of the Gods1916
The Evil Women Do1916Malgat/Papa RavinetBilled as "Sydney Dean". The film was also known as The Clique of Gold.
Melting Millions1917Uncle Peter
The Grip of Love1917
The Field of Honor1917PooleBilled as "Sidney Deane".
A Doll's House1917Dr. Rank
The Gray Ghost1917
The Reed Case1917John ReedBilled as "Sydney Dean".
Sirens of the Sea1917Wellington StanhopeReleased as Darlings of the Gods in the United Kingdom.
Beloved Jim1917Lawrence Darcy
The Wife He Bought1918James Brierson
The Midnight Trail1918Reverend Robert Moreland
Breakers Ahead1918Hiram Hawley
No Man's Land1918
Lure of the Circus1918ReynoldsBilled as "Sidney Deane".
A Man and His Money1919John Sturgeon
The Crimson Gardenia1919Papa la ForgeBilled as "Sidney Deane".
Male and Female1919Thomas
The Midlanders1920Judge Van Hart
Treasure Island1920Squire Trelawney
The Strange Boarder1920Dawson
Once a Plumber1920FenelonBilled as "Sidney Deane".
The Last of the Mohicans1920General Webb
Find the Woman1922Sofford
Missing Millions1922Donald Gordon
Her Own Story1922
The Broken Violin1923Dr. Mason
America1924Sir Ashley MontagueReleased as Love and Sacrifice in the UK.