FOUND A GRAVE

British Vaudeville Actor. With the stage name “Harry Randall”, Thomas started out professionally as a comedic singer at Deacon’s music hall in 1883. Within a couple of years he was a favourite “top of the bill” throughout the nation, where he remained until his retirement in 1913. He also started a long and successful pantomime career at the Theatre Royal, Birmingham on Boxing Day 1885 as Will Atkins in “Robinson Crusoe.” In 1903 he made his debut at Drury Lane Theater in “Humpty Dumpty,” with his great friends, an ailing Dan Leno and Herbert Campbell; both were to die not long after the end of the pantomime’s run in 1904. His final pantomime performance was as Prince Spinach in “Jack and the Beanstalk” for the 1910-1911 season also at the Drury Lane Theater. He had become a much sought pantomime artist, particularly famous for his roles as pantomime dame. His career was prematurely ended in 1913 with the sudden death of his wife Annie, during an exploratory operation. This event affected him so deeply, that he vowed never to return to the stage again. She was buried in Hamptead Cemetry on January 14, 1913. His autobiography “Harry Randall – Old Time Comedian – by Himself” was published in 1930, in which he gave great insight into show business and of the great variety of characters it had spawned.