Claxton, Kate (1848–1924)

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Claxton, Kate (1848–1924)

American actress. Born Kate Eliza Cone, Aug 24, 1848, in Somerville, New Jersey; died May 5, 1924, in New York, NY; dau. of Josephine (Martinez) Cone and Spencer Wallace Cone(lawyer); m. Isadore Lyon, 1865 (div.); m. Charles A. Stevenson (English actor), Mar 3, 1878 (annulled); children: 6.

Made 1st professional appearance in Chicago as Mary Blake in Andy Blake (1869); made NY debut in Augustin Daly's company in Man and Wife (1870); after clash with Daly (1873), performed with A.M. Palmer's company for several seasons and earned fame as Louise in The Two Orphans (1874), a role she repeated many times throughout career; was on stage (as Louise) during catastrophic fire at Brooklyn Theater (1876) and helped calm audience; achieved leading lady status with Ferreol (1876); toured as star in her own company, performing in The World Against Her, Conscience and The Two Orphans, among others; appeared with 2nd husband in NY in such works as Double Marriage and Bootles' Baby.