Sidney Drew

Biography

The very origins of Sidney Drew are enshrouded in mystery; his mother asserted he was adopted, a claim perhaps fueled by her husband's multi-year theatrical tour preceding Sidney's birth and his subsequent death before the momentous event. Yet, his celebrated niece and nephews, Ethel, Lionel, and John Barrymore, firmly believed he bore an undeniable resemblance to their 'Mummum,' making any other parentage improbable. Adding to the enigma, whispers persist of a birth at sea, and even his exact date of arrival remains contested. Known affectionately as 'Uncle Googan' to the young Barrymores, Sidney was a pivotal figure in their formative years, as they were largely raised within the household of his mother (their maternal grandmother). His own marital journey began under similarly vague circumstances; sometime before 1892, he wed Gladys Rankin, herself hailing from a distinguished acting lineage. Billed as Mr. and Mrs. Sidney Drew, they commanded vaudeville stages, enchanting audiences with their marital comedies. Gladys, a woman of sharp wit and creative talent, often took it upon herself to rewrite lackluster material or craft entirely new, superior scripts. Their partnership later extended to the burgeoning film industry, where they joined Vitagraph, Sidney contributing as both an actor and director. Following Gladys's untimely death in 1914, Sidney found love again with Lucille McVey, a spirited 24-year-old writer he had encountered on the Vitagraph lot where their professional paths intertwined. A profound personal tragedy struck when his only child, S. Rankin Drew, a promising actor and director in his own right, enlisted in the army during World War I and was tragically killed when his plane was shot down over France. Sidney never recovered from the devastating loss of his son, succumbing to his grief just a year later.