Fred Marsden (1842– May 19, 1888) was an American playwright.
Life and career
Born William A. Silver in Baltimore, Maryland, Marsden was the son of Abraham Silver. He was educated as a lawyer in Philadelphia and began his career as a lawyer in that city prior to working as a playwright. He wrote his first play in 1872 at which time he changed his name to Fred Marsden. He penned both melodramas and farces; usually writing for the specific talents of well known performers of the second half of the 19th century. For Lotta Crabtree he wrote the plays Zip (1874), Musette (1876), and Bob (188?) and for the actress Annie Pixley he wrote Zara (1883) and Elly (1885). For the Irish comedian Joseph Murphy he wrote Cheek (1883) and Humbug (1886), and for William J. Scanlan he wrote the farce The Irish Minstrel (1886).
Marsden committed suicide on May 19, 1888 at his home in Manhattan following a quarrel with his daughter.
References
- ^ "LEAVING THE KNOWABLE; FRED MARSDEN TAKES HIS OWN LIFE. UNABLE TO BEAR HIS DAUGHTER'S MISDEEDS THE PLAYWRIGHT BREAKS A "CONTRACT" WITH NATURE". The New York Times. May 20, 1888. p. 2.
- ^ Bordman, Gerald; Hischak, Thomas S. (2004). "Marsden, Fred (1842–88), playwright". The Oxford Companion to American Theatre, Third Edition. Oxford University Press. ISBN 9780195169867.
- "Dramatic Notes". The Standard Union. September 10, 1887. p. 3.