George Vivian (1884-1970) was an actor, director, producer, and teacher who was elected to the Lambs’ Fold in 1919. Born in New Cross in the London Borough of Lewisham, England, he became one of the most respected acting coaches on both sides of the Atlantic, counting Spencer Tracy, Henry Fonda, and Peggy Ann Garner among his pupils.
After serving an apprenticeship in London at the Theatre Royal, the Royal Surrey Theatre, and the Victoria Theatre (the Old Vic), Vivian came to New York in 1902 with the Ben Greet Theatre Company.
During the 1920s in New York, he directed productions for the Punch and Judy Theatre (155 West 49th Street) and assisted on productions of Oh, Henry, Good Morning, Judge, and June Love.
As an actor, Vivian was best known for his portrayal of Puck in Shakespeare’s A Midsummer Night’s Dream, a role he performed more than 1,987 times. He also staged Nathaniel Hawthorne’s Wonder Tales on the White House Lawn for President Theodore Roosevelt.
He later co-founded Maryland’s Olney Theatre with Steve Cochran and directed Cochran’s National Academy of Stage Training. In 1939, he founded the Academy of the Theatre.
In addition to his theatrical career, Vivian served as a lieutenant in the Metropolitan Police Auxiliary and worked for British intelligence during both World Wars. He also taught English and Drama at the Culver Military Academy in Indiana and staged productions under the Works Progress Administration (WPA).
Active in civic life, he served as a Republican precinct chairman in Maryland and held various offices in the Capitol View Park Citizens Association.
At the age of 85, Vivian died of a stroke on May 12, 1970, at his home in Silver Spring, Maryland, leaving behind his wife, Dorothy, and a daughter, Dorothy; a stepson, Herbert; a brother, Philip Clarke; and a sister, Daisy. He is buried in Flushing Cemetery in Flushing, Queens, New York.
Written & Researched by Lamb Bruce Roberts (2026)