[THEATRE] Frank Gillmore (1867-1943) English-American playwright and a stage and early film actor. He was a founder and former President of Actor's Equity. He made his stage debut in London in 1879, then toured the British provinces for three years before returning to the London stage where he remained for a further five years. During this period he shared lodgings with George Arliss. Gillmore then alternated between appearances in Britain and America for a further five years. Aged 17 he appeared with Lillie Langtry. He married the American actress Laura Margaret MacGillivray whom he met when they both appeared in an American tour of Lady Windermere's Fan. Gillmore became a founder of the Actors' Equity Association in 1913 after the Actors Society of America disbanded in 1912. He made two silent films, The Fairy and the Waif (1915) and The Lifted Veil (1917). From 1918 to 1929 he was the union's Executive Secretary and eventual President, a position he held from 1929 to 1937. He was also the international President of the Associated Actors and Artistes of America from 1938 to 1943. TLS, 1932, 1p, sending his autograph. On Actors' Equity stationery. Picture of him is NOT included.

Mail folds o/w VG.