Actor. An acclaimed stage actor, he shortened "Adolphus" to "Dolly" and adopted his middle name for his last name to become "Dolly Davenport." His breakthrough role came in 1848 as "Willis," in "Paul Pry" at the Baltimore Athenaeum then, onward and upward to the role of "Claude Melnotte," which he played opposite actress Josephine Shaw. He studied law at the request of his parents, and was admitted to the New York State Bar. However, his passion for acting remained, and he returned to the stage in the role of "Box" in "Box & Cox" which opened in Wallack's Old Theater. Subsequent roles include "Montano" in "Othello," and, "Captain Charles" in "Who Speaks First" at the Broadway Theater. Later, in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, during the 1853 to 1854 season, he was a member of The Old Chestnut Theater Company. The following season he was performing with that city's Walnut Street Theater Company. His career then took him to, and through, the South, where he toured extensively. In Alabama, he was affiliated with the Mobile Theater and Bidwell's Academy of Music.
Actor. An acclaimed stage actor, he shortened "Adolphus" to "Dolly" and adopted his middle name for his last name to become "Dolly Davenport." His breakthrough role came in 1848 as "Willis," in "Paul Pry" at the Baltimore Athenaeum then, onward and upward to the role of "Claude Melnotte," which he played opposite actress Josephine Shaw. He studied law at the request of his parents, and was admitted to the New York State Bar. However, his passion for acting remained, and he returned to the stage in the role of "Box" in "Box & Cox" which opened in Wallack's Old Theater. Subsequent roles include "Montano" in "Othello," and, "Captain Charles" in "Who Speaks First" at the Broadway Theater. Later, in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, during the 1853 to 1854 season, he was a member of The Old Chestnut Theater Company. The following season he was performing with that city's Walnut Street Theater Company. His career then took him to, and through, the South, where he toured extensively. In Alabama, he was affiliated with the Mobile Theater and Bidwell's Academy of Music.
Bio by: John T. Chiarella
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