COQUELIN, 1c6k-Ida, Benoit Constant, French actor: b. Boulogne, 23 Jan. 1841; d. France, 26 Jan. 1909. He is known as Coquelin Ain& to distinguish him from his younger brother, Coquelin Cadet. He early gave promise of great dramatic ability. He was admitted to the Paris Conservatoire in 1859, the following year took the second prize for comedy, and made his debut on the stage of the Theatre Francais, 7 Dv. 1860, as Gros-Rene in 'Le &pit amoureux.) Later he appeared with great success in 'Le Mariage de Figaro,) 'Le malade ima?inaire,' 'Le misanthrope,' (Le barbier de Seville,' and other pieces in the classical reper toire. His versatility was considered remark able, as he was no less effective in modern plays, and he speedily became a popular fa vorite. He was elected a societaire in the Theatre Francais in 1864, but in 1886 he' retired and made an extensive tour abroad. He made his first visit to America in 1888. About the end of 1889 he rejoined the Theatre Francais company as a salaried member and remained with that organization until 1892. In 1893-94 he again appeared in the United States. Upon his return to Paris he formed an engagement with the Renaissance Theatre, which led to a lawsuit with the Comedie Francaise in which Coquelin was condemned to pay damages. In
1900-01 he visited America again, in company with Sarah Bernhardt (q.v.), to whose Duke de Reichstadt he played Flambeau in Rostand's (L'Aiglon.) Among the many characters cre ated by M. Coquelin in later years are those of Labussiere in (Thermidor,) Cyrano de Bergerac in Rostand's play of that name, and Napoleon in 'More than Queen.) He was without a rival among his contemporaries. His versatility and mastery of technique were unequalled. He entered into the soul of the part he was playing and his simplicity and directness made a great appeal to his audience. Together with his high rank as a comedian M. Coquelin became cele brated as an author and lecturer, among his publications being