Charles Daly in 'Paul's Return'

The actor and author Charles Daly is seen here dressed as a character in Paul’s Return, a ‘new and original comedy by Mr Watts Phillips’ first performed at the Princess’s Theatre in London in 1864 (London Evening Standard, 13 February 1864).

Born in Soho on 14 January 1846, he was baptised at St Anne’s in Soho on 11 March 1846. His father William Henry Daly of Poland Street was a ‘Ship Booker.’ His mother was Rosina Frances Daly.

He was, at an early age, the author of several pantomimes, including Ye Lambton Worme at Newcastle’s Tyne Theatre at Christmas 1867, when one local paper described him as ‘a member of the stock company,' and Little Red Riding Hood at the same theatre and subsequently at the Prince of Wales Theatre in Birmingham in the winter of 1868-69.

Charles appears on the 1861 census living at 45 Poland Street in Soho, possibly the same house where he was born in 1846. The head of the household was his aunt, Theresa Royer, a 'Feathermaker.' His mother, Theresa's sister, was also present on the night of the census, now listed as Rosina Royer, a widow. She seems to have used the two surnames interchangeably.

On 30 January 1869 at St James’s in Westminster Charles married Mary Ellen Kyte Chauntler. His surname was recorded as Royer, his mother’s maiden name, indicating that despite his baptismal entry, his parents were not actually married. In fact, his father had by then long been married to someone else. On 15 April 1851 at St Pancras Old Church he had wed Bridget Mitchell Hall, declaring himself a ‘Bachelor.’

Mr and Mrs Charles Daly later appeared on stage together. At the Royal Theatre in Torquay they ‘kept the house in continual laughter’ in a farce entitled Pretty Peggy Green, according to a report in The Era (12 September 1880). Local newspapers attest to the fact that Charles Daly was the theatre’s manager for much of the 1880s.

The couple appear on the 1881 census living at ‘Cliff View’ in Torquay. Charles gave ‘Manager of the Torquay Theatre’ as his profession. Also present on the night of the census were Charles’s mother, now once again listed as Rosina F. Daly, and his aunt, Theresa E. Royer. His mother and aunt were both born in London.

When the census was taken in 1891, Charles was a ‘Comedian’ lodging at a house in Hammersmith.

In 1901 Charles and Ellen were living at 40 Highbury Hill in North London with their son Oliver Mark Royer Daly, aged 27. Born on 25 April 1883 while the couple were living at 'Cliff View' in Torquay, the census shows that he was Charles and Ellen's only child. Charles gave 'Author & Actor' as his profession; Ellen is listed as an 'Actress' and Oliver as an 'Advertiser' working for a draper. Also present on the night of the census was a 'boarder' by the name of Rosa May Lowe, a 'Shop Assistant' who married Oliver in Edmonton the following year.

Towards the end of 1901 Ellen returned to the Royal Theatre in Torquay as Miss Nelly Daly in a ‘nautical drama’ entitled The Lass that Loves a Sailor, according to the Torquay Times (6 December 1901).

According to reports in The Era, Charles Daly was still appearing on stage on the eve of the First World War. In 1913 he played ‘a splendid old Waterloo Veteran’ in Sir J.M. Barrie’s Quality Street at the Duke of York’s Theatre in London (The Era, 3 December 1913) and the following year he played ‘Old Man, Rustic’ in Thomas Hardy’s The Dynasts at the Kingsway Theatre (The Era, 2 December 1914).

At the end of his life, he even appeared in a film. He is listed as one of the cast of The Lifeguardsman. 'A Photoplay in 5 Acts' from a play by Walter Howard, it was shown at the West End Cinema in Coventry Street in August 1916. Publicity for the film proclaimed 'The greatest Cast which has ever appeared in a Motion Picture Play produced in the World' (The Bioscope, 3 August 1916). An adventure story set in Ruritania, the plot concerned an idiot heir who helps an injured prince save a princess from an arranged marriage to a usurper.

Charles William Daly died, aged 70, on 23 December 1916 at 39 Warham Road, Hornsey [in North London]. His death certificate records his profession as 'Stage Actor and Author.' The cause of death was cardio-vascular degeneration and heart failure. The informant was his son, Oliver Daly.

Photographed by John Hubbard of 1 Oxford Street, London.