Our Family History

Edward Smith Willard, the son of Smith Willard and Ann Goodale was born in Brighton, Sussex, England in 1853. He was the youngest of six children, four girls and two boys.
He made his debut upon the stage at Weymouth in The Lady of Lyons in 1869. He then toured with E. A. Sothern and later joined various stock companies. Coming to London in 1875, he played Antonio in The Merchant of Venice with Charles Rice in 1876. After a varied experience in Shakespearean and other plays, in 1881 he was engaged by Wilson Barrett at the Princess Theatre, where he played in The Lights of London, The Silver King, and other well-known pieces. In 1886 he made a hit as Jim the Penman at the Haymarket.