Henry Norris (actor)

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Henry Norris (1665–c.1730), nicknamed Jubilee Dicky, was an English actor famous for his comic roles in London and Dublin during the late 1600s and early 1700s. He was the son of another actor, and his mother, Mrs. Norris, is said to have been the first English actress on the stage.

He was born in 1665 in Salisbury Court, London. Around 1695 he worked in Dublin at Smock Alley Theatre, playing comic parts such as Sir Nicholas Cully and Sir Oliver Cockwood. In 1699 he returned to London’s Drury Lane and played Dicky in The Constant Couple; his success earned him the nickname Jubilee Dicky.

In the early 1700s he acted at Drury Lane and the Haymarket, taking many comic roles and creating several original parts in new plays. He was known for his small, funny figure, a long coat, and a thin, squeaky voice that could provoke laughter. Some colleagues praised his timing and presence, while others believed his height limited him for serious parts. He also appeared at Bartholomew Fair, and Addison wrote about his humor in The Spectator.

Around 1705 he married the actress Mrs. Knapton (sister of Mrs. Wilks). They had children, and the marriage is mentioned again in 1731 in connection with Norris. Norris probably died around 1730; no portrait is known.