CLARKE, JOHN SLEEPER ( 1833-99). An American comedian, after 1867 a resident of England. He was born at Baltimore. and in his boyhood was a schoolmate of Edwin Booth. with whom he engaged in amateur dramatic readings. Giving up the study of law in order to go upon the stage, he made his first professional appear ance in Boston, as Frank Hardy. in Paul Pry, at the Howard :Viten:cum, in 1851. The next year he went to Philadelphia. In 1859 he mar ried Asia Booth, the sister of his old schoolmate. Be made his appearance in New York. in 1861. as Diggory, in The Spectre Bridegroom. From 1864 to 1867 he was associated with Booth in the management of the Winter Garden. New York; they also had theatres in Philadelphia and Bos ton. Clarke's popularity was very great, among his favorite parts being Dromio of Syracuse, Paul Pry. Bob Brierly in the Ticket-of-Leave Man, and especially Major Wellington de Boots in Everybody's Friend, and Toot] lee. Having
gone to London in 1867. he made his English debut in the r5le of Major de Boots. His suc cess was such that he decided to remain in Eng land. though he afterwards made several visits to the United States (1870, 1871. 1879. and 1q841, where he was warmly welcomed. Some of his later parts were Salem Sendder in The Octo •oon. Dr. Pangloss in 7'he Heir at Laic, 011apod in The Poor Gentleman, On Jones in Among the Breakers. and Bob Acres in The Rivals; but Toodles remained the favorite. Its first run at the Strand Theatre. where Clarke was long engaged, was for Iwo hundred nights. his later years were passed at leisure, near London. Consult: PAL in :Matthews and Hut ton. Actors and Actresses of Grout Britain and the, United States. vol. ii. York. 18861: and Clapp and Edgett. Players of the Present (New York. 1899).