Eugenie Blair



Eugenie A. Blair (1864 – May 13, 1922) was an American stage actress, who, at the age of 22, was touring with Lawrence Barrett in 1886. The San Francisco Examiner, while reviewing Barrett's work at the peak of his career, commented favorably on Blair's acting: 'In "The Wonder" and "The King's Pleasure" Miss Eugenia Blair has had her first opportunity since the engagement began. She is a charming young actress, with a very attractive voice and manner.... In the "King's Pleasure" especially she looks like a bit of lovely old porcelain, and she fits perfectly into the significant and Hugoesque fragment of French romance which Alfred Thompson has dressed in such poetic and expressive English. (San Francisco Examiner, May 16. 1886, p. 6)

Blair is best remembered for originating the role of Marthy Owen in the premiere 1921 Broadway presentation of Eugene O'Neill's play Anna Christie. Blair died moments after walking offstage at the Cort Theatre in Chicago during her performance as Anna Christie, which she chose to carry out in spite of not feeling well that evening. Blair had been married to Shakespearean actor Robert L. Downing, her second husband. Blair's Broadway appearances were sporadic until towards the end of her life. She toured extensively in her youth.

She collapsed and died after playing Marthy in Anna Christie in Chicago.