Gillette, << jih LEHT, >> William (1855-1937), was a leading American playwright and actor. His 25 plays are filled with swift-moving action and realistic detail, specifically indicated in his elaborate stage directions. Gillette’s reputation rests mainly on two plays. Secret Service (1895) is an American Civil War spy drama. He adapted Sherlock Holmes (1899) from stories by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, an English author. Gillette’s performance as Holmes became the model for later actors. His other plays include the Civil War drama Held by the Enemy (1886) and the comedy Too Much Johnson (1894). He was born in Hartford, Connecticut on July 24, 1855. He died on April 29, 1937.
