AustLit

Actor, dramatist, screenwriter, stage and film director, variety entertainer.

Educated at St Aloysius' College, Sydney, John Cosgrove showed early promise as an actor and secured his first professional engagement at age 1919 with Alfred Dampier. During his long career he appeared with numerous legitimate theatre companies, and notably as lead actor with Bland Holt in the 1890s. Other firms included the George Miln Shakespeare Co, J.C. Williamson's, Brough and Boucicault, Harry Clay's Dramatic Co and the Fullers. Cosgrove also toured his own companieas at various time during his career. His last dramatic engagement was with Osche Asche at Kings Theatre (Melbourne).

In addition to acting Cosgrove wrote and/or adapted a number of dramatic works, appeared in some 20 films, and wrote several screenplays. He as was also occasionally involved in variety entertainment as a monologuist, securing short term contrracts with Harry Rickards, the Ada Delroy Company, the Fullers and Harry Clay among others. In 1917 he also worked for Clay as a circuit manager.

[Source: Australian Variety Theatre Archive]