James O'Neill (actor, born 1847)

James O'Neill (November 15, 1847 – August 10, 1920) was an Irish-American actor, most famous for playing the Count of Monte Cristo in a stage adaptation of Alexandre Dumas' novel. He was the father of Nobel Prize-winning playwright Eugene O'Neill.

Born in Kilkenny, Ireland, O'Neill immigrated to the United States as a child. He began his acting career in Cincinnati, Ohio, eventually finding success in touring productions. His portrayal of the Count of Monte Cristo, first performed in 1883, became his signature role and provided him with considerable financial security. While O'Neill earned a comfortable living from the play, its repetitive nature eventually stifled his artistic ambitions and prevented him from exploring more challenging roles.

Despite his frustration with being typecast, O'Neill continued to perform the Count of Monte Cristo throughout his career, recognizing its popularity with audiences and the financial benefits it provided for his family. He also appeared in other plays, including adaptations of Shakespeare and Ibsen, but none achieved the same level of success as his most famous role.

Eugene O'Neill's semi-autobiographical play, Long Day's Journey into Night, portrays a thinly veiled version of James O'Neill as James Tyrone, an aging actor haunted by his past success and driven by a need for financial security, often at the expense of artistic integrity. This play offers a complex and often critical portrayal of the elder O'Neill's life and career, providing insight into his relationship with his son and the struggles he faced as an actor in the late 19th and early 20th centuries.

O'Neill died in New London, Connecticut, and is buried in the St. Mary's Cemetery there. His legacy is complex, remembered both for his stage success and for his portrayal in his son's unflinching dramatic masterpiece.