John Mills (c.1670–1736) was a British stage actor. A long-standing part of the Drury Lane company from 1695 until his death, he appeared in both comedies and tragedies.[1] His wife Margaret Mills was an actress, and his son William Mills also became an actor at Drury Lane.
He was a friend of the playwright Richard Steele and Robert Wilks the lead actor and manager at Drury Lane with whom he frequently appeared on stage.[2] He died on 17 December 1736, thirteen days after performing in his final role as the King in Henry IV, Part 2.[3]
Selected roles
- Pedro in Agnes de Castro by Catherine Trotter (1695)
- Castillio in Neglected Virtue by Charles Hopkins (1696)
- Pisano in The Unhappy Kindness by Thomas Scott (1696)
- Lovewell in Love and a Bottle by George Farquhar (1698)
- Colonel Darange in The Campaigners by Thomas D'Urfey (1698)
- Vizard in The Constant Couple by George Farquhar (1699)
- Don Duart in Love Makes a Man by Colley Cibber (1700)
- Charles VIII in The Unhappy Penitent by Catharine Trotter (1701)
- Colonel Standard in Sir Harry Wildair by George Farquhar (1701)
- Rodomond in The Generous Conqueror by Bevil Higgons (1701)
- Menelaus in The Virgin Prophetess by Elkanah Settle (1701)
- Colonel Philip in The Bath by Thomas d'Urfey (1701)
- Don Guzman in The False Friend by John Vanbrugh (1702)
- Johnson in All for the Better by Francis Manning (1702)
- Trueman in The Twin Rivals by George Farquhar (1702)
- Queenlove in The Old Mode and the New by Thomas d'Urfey (1703)
- Lovemore in The Lying Lover by Richard Steele (1703)
- Sir Charles in The Fair Example by Richard Estcourt (1703)
- Loveworth in Tunbridge Walks by Thomas Baker (1703)
- Abdolin in The Faithful Bride of Granada by William Taverner (1704)
- Captain Smart in Hampstead Heath by Thomas Baker (1705)
- Seofrid in The Royal Convert by Nicholas Rowe (1707)
- Sir Harry Sprightly in The Fine Lady's Airs by Thomas Baker (1708)
- Oxartes in The Persian Princess by Lewis Theobald (1708)
- Charles in The Busie Body by Susanna Centlivre (1709)
- Captain Constant in The Man's Bewitched by Susanna Centlivre (1709)
- Carlo in The City Ramble by Elkanah Settle (1711)
- Boreal in The Successful Pyrate by Charles Johnson (1712)
- Sempronius in Cato by Joseph Addison (1713)
- Heartly in The Female Advocates by William Taverner (1713)
- Friendly in The Apparition by Anoymous (1713)
- Menelaus in The Victim by Charles Johnson (1714)
- Bellmour in Jane Shore by Nicholas Rowe (1714)
- Freehold in The Country Lasses by Charles Johnson (1715)
- Duke of Northumberland in Lady Jane Grey by Nicholas Rowe (1715)
- King of Lombardy in The Cruel Gift by Susanna Centlivre (1716)
- Fantome in The Drummer by Joseph Addison (1716)
- Colonel Woodvill in The Non-Juror by Colley Cibber (1717)
- Arminius in Lucius by Delarivier Manley (1717)
- Acomat in The Sultaness by Charles Johnson (1717)
- Sir Charles Winlove in Love in a Veil by Richard Savage (1718)
- Ausidius in The Invader of His Country by John Dennis (1719)
- Leonidas in The Spartan Dame by Thomas Southerne (1719)
- Nicanor in Busiris, King of Egypt by Edward Young (1719)
- Caled in The Siege of Damascus by John Hughes (1720)
- Zanga in The Revenge by Edward Young (1721)
- Valens in The Briton by Ambrose Philips (1722)
- Ned Freeman in The Artifice by Susanna Centlivre (1722)
- Sir John Bevil in The Conscious Lovers by Richard Steele (1722)
- Adam in Love in a Forest by Charles Johnson (1723)
- Richard, Duke of York in Humphrey, Duke of Gloucester by Ambrose Philips (1723)
- Zimon in The Fatal Constancy by Hildebrand Jacob (1723)
- Hydarnes in The Captives by John Gay (1724)
- Photinus in Caesar in Egypt by Colley Cibber (1724)
- Agamemnon in Hecuba by Richard West (1726)
- Sagely in The Rival Modes by James Moore Smythe (1727)
- Manly in The Provoked Husband by Colley Cibber (1728)
- Wisemore in Love in Several Masques by Henry Fielding (1728)
- Arcas in Love in a Riddle by Colley Cibber (1729)
- Colonel Truelove in The Humours of Oxford by James Miller (1730)
- Creon in Medea by Charles Johnson (1730)
- Timoleon in Timoleon by Benjamin Martyn (1730)
- Syphax in Sophonisba by James Thomson (1730)
- Periander in Eurydice by David Mallet (1731)
- Claremont in The Modish Couple by James Miller (1732)
- Meanwell in Caelia by Charles Johnson (1732)
- Heartwell in The Mother-in-Law by James Miller (1735)
- Junius Brutus in Junius Brutus by William Duncombe (1734)
- Freelove in The Man of Taste by James Miller (1735)
- Aranthes in The Christian Hero by George Lillo (1735)
References
Bibliography
- Highfill, Philip H, Burnim, Kalman A. & Langhans, Edward A. A Biographical Dictionary of Actors, Actresses, Musicians, Dancers, Managers, and Other Stage Personnel in London, 1660-1800: Garrick to Gyngell. SIU Press, 1978.