Thorndike, Eileen (1891–1954)
Thorndike, Eileen (1891–1954)
English actress. Born Jan 31, 1891, in Rochester, Kent, England; died April 17, 1954; dau. of Canon Arthur John Webster Thorndike and Agnes Macdonald (Bowers) Thorndike; sister of Russell Thorndike (1885–1972, actor and playwright) and Sybil Thorndike (actress); m. Maurice Ewbank, 1920 (died).
Made stage debut as a walk-on in As You Like It (1909), then joined Annie Horniman's company in Manchester; appeared at Liverpool Rep (1912–17), then Ben Greet's company (1917–19); retired from stage (1920–30), reappearing in Madame Plays Nap; other plays include Saint Joan, Fire, The Brontës of Haworth (as Charlotte), The Cathedral, The Family Reunion, Mandragola and Hindle Wakes; served as principal of Embassy School of Acting (1933–39) and producer at Central School of Speech at the Albert Hall.