Ruth Draper

Monologue performer, born in New York City, USA. She made her stage debut in 1915. Following successful solo appearances for the US troops in France in 1918, she toured extensively, appearing in 1926 before George V at Windsor. Her repertoire comprised monologues of her own devising, and embraced 57 characters.

Ruth Draper (December 2, 1884 - December 30, 1956) was an American dramatist. Such theatre legends as George Bernard Shaw, Thornton Wilder, John Gielgud, Katharine Hepburn, Maurice Chevalier, Laurence Olivier, and Uta Hagen were among those dazzled by her art. Draper died in 1956, aged 72, just hours after giving a performance on Broadway.

Recordings of Draper's monologues, which are still available on compact disc, have influenced many contemporary writers and performers, including Lily Tomlin, Mike Nichols, Julie Harris, Simon Callow, Emma Thompson, Charles Busch, David Mamet, Julia Sweeney and John Lithgow.