James Keteltas Hackett, one of the youngest of the prominent actors
of America, and certainly the youngest actor-manager of note in this
country, was born at Wolfe Island, Ontario, Canada, September 6, 1869.
He is the son of the late James Henry Hackett, who in his time was
also a notable figure of the American boards. After graduating from
the College of the City of New York in 1891, he studied in the New
York law school, but his inclination for the stage, which manifested
itself almost as soon as he could talk, became more and more marked,
and, abandoning the legal career which it had been intended he should
follow, he gave himself up to studying for the stage. In 1892 he made
his début in New York in the A. M. Palmer stock company. From the very
first he gave unmistakable indications of his subsequent success. In
four years—being then twenty-six years of age—he was leading man of
the company in question, and was a star in the dramatic firmament of
New York. From that time on his progress in his chosen profession has
been unceasing. For some years he was under the management of Mr.
Daniel Frohman, during which period he made distinctive hits in The
Prisoner of Zenda and its sequel, Rupert of Hentzau, and The Pride
of Jennico. Leaving Mr. Frohman’s management, he branched out for
himself. As already intimated, he is as successful as he is popular.
He married Mary Mannering, a well-known actress, whom he met during his
association with the Frohman forces.