Charles B. Bishop (1833-1889) Maple 69

Mr. Bishop was born in Baltimore around 1833 and began stage performances very early on in his life. He was considered an old school type comedian and performed with many notables of the time including Edwin Forrest, Charlotte Cushman, James Murdock, and Julia Dean Hayne. He had a well known reputation in low comedy, which was the type of comedy that was loud, boisterous and had plenty of slapstick. Bishop was also well known for his female impersonations in the plays he performed in. One of his most well known was that of Widow Bedott. He joined the Confederate Army during the Civil War and resumed his acting when peace was declared.

He was the first low comedian at the Ford’s Theatre. He performed mostly in California, and his first appearance was at the San Francisco’s Grand Opera House. During this time he also studied medicine and pursued this ardently. He obtained a degree of Doctor of Medicine and was qualified to practice. He preferred the stage though, to medicine. He had a clause in his contract with theatres that would omit him from rehearsals so he could attend important medical lectures or important surgeries.

Some of the shows he performed in were; “Little Jack Sheppard”, “The Mascot”, “Adonis” and “Henry V”.

He was considered a jovial, goodhearted and unselfish man, but his heart was broken when his only son, Charles J. Bishop, a young actor, died of Typhoid fever at the age of 23. This is a photo of his gravesite. He was interred on November 17, 1886. During a performance of “Lord Chumley” at the Lyceum Theatre in New York on October 8,1889, Bishop died suddenly. He had just exited the stage and was laughing merrily and died a few moments later of a heart attack.

The rest of the performance was canceled. His wife Josephine was with him when he died. He had one daughter named Minnie.

A huge benefit was held on October 18 at the Star Theatre to raise money for the family.