Show On Program S Willard E. E Givens Given DEATH CLAIMS VETERAN ACTOR KAN KANSAS AS CITY Sept 23 De F-De- ff DeWolf De- De Wolf Hopper 77 71 one me of the e great comedians of at the American stage whose name was known to theatergoer theatergoers theatergoers theater theater- goers goer goers for more than h half l a century died of lof heart disease dlease in St. St L Luke's Lukes e hospital here her today The veteran actor was 1 Ill I yesterday yesterday yesterday yester yester- day when he ho Ip participated in a a radio broadcast After fter the program he ho was Vas taken to the hospital hospit l. l where he died at 6 a. a m. m He bad had been giving a series of ot broadcasts each Sunday usually coming hero here by plane from Chicago After an inauspicious start on his stage career the career the first production in which h he bC appeared appear d at New Haven Hayen Ha Ha- yen ven ven Conn October r 2 2 1878 failed failed- he struggled d upward until he be was recognized in 1890 as one of the brilliant stars of ot the comic opera stage In taking up a a. a stage career Hopper Hopper Hopper Hop Hop- per cast aside the profession sion his parents hoped he be would follow follow- that of at a lawyer A As A- a n. young ayoung man Hopper prepared himself for this Utis work and even spent six months Inthe in inthe inthe the of office lice of the thC illustrious lawyer Joseph H. H Choate his godfather Then ho he became restless ss and Choate advised his parents the boy be given his chance In the theater After his first failure Hopper fi financed 11 and managed a tour of at a company playing One Hundred Wives This company also was stranded Engaged by Edward Harrigan for fora a part in The Blackbird Hopper began training his bass voice with the thought of entering grand opera Ho He interrupted his training to play in Hazel Kirke and May Blossom Blossom Blos Bios som sam In 1884 Later he was engaged to play an important role on short notice and gave so creditable a performance per per- he immediately became recognized as the principal comedian comedian comedian come come- dian of ot the company He was born in New York March 30 30 1858 His full name was William Villiam DeWolf Volf Hopper to |