{{Short description|American actor, stage performer (1863–1940)}} {{Use American English|date=May 2025}} {{Use mdy dates|date=May 2025}} {{Infobox person | name = Dan Quinlan | other_names = Daniel J. Quinlan | birth_name = Daniel Cullinan | birth_date = April 21, 1863 | birth_place = Elmira, New York, U.S. | death_date = July 12, 1940 | death_place = Elmira, New York, U.S. | occupation = Actor, acting coach | years_active = 1883–1932 | known_for = Vaudeville and blackface minstrel performer, Broadway actor }} '''Daniel J. Quinlan''' (born '''Daniel Cullinan'''; April 21, 1863{{snd}}July 12, 1940), known on the stage as '''Dan Quinlan''', was an American actor and vaudeville and minstrel show performer. He had an active career on the American stage from 1883 until his retirement in 1932. He began his career in minstrel shows and then transitioned into vaudeville where he performed as one half of the duo '''Quinlan & Mack''' from 1905 to 1910. In his latter career he worked in legitimate theatre; starring in several Broadway musicals in the 1910s and 1920s.
==Life and career== Dan Quinlan was born with name Daniel Cullinan on April 21, 1863, in Elmira, New York.<ref name="Monarch">{{cite book | url=https://books.google.com/books?id=-LqHGT4EPSQC&dq=dan+quinlan+minstrel&pg=PA316 | title=Monarchs of Minstrelsy, from "Daddy" Rice to Date | date=1911 | publisher=Kenny Publishing Company}}</ref> He was the son of Irish immigrants John and Margaret Cullinan.<ref>Daniel Cullinan in the 1880 United States Federal Census, New York, Chemung, Elmira, Supervisor's District No. 9, Enumeration District 071, Page 12</ref> Before working as an actor he worked in the rolling factory of the Elmira Iron Rolling Mill Company.<ref name="Monarch"/>
Quinlan began his career on the stage in 1883 as a member of Barlow, Wilson and Co.'s Mammoth Minstrels.<ref name="Monarch"/> He worked for a variety of minstrel shows, including ones operated by Al G. Field and McIntyre & Heath.<ref name="Variety"/> From 1905 to 1910 he performed with Keller Mack in the vaudeville duo Quinlan and Mack.<ref name="Monarch"/> He later worked in the legitimate theatre, notably starring is multiple musicals on Broadway. His Broadway credits include the roles of Hiram J. Kidder in Harry B. Smith and Carl Woess's ''Molly O''' (1916, Cort Theatre),{{sfn|Dietz|2021|pp=347-348}} multiple roles in Harold Atteridge and Sigmund Romberg's ''The Show of Wonders'' (1916–1917, Winter Garden Theatre), Col. Winslow in Jean Schwartz and Alfred Bryan's ''Hello, Alexander'' (1919, 44th Street Theatre),{{sfn|Dietz|2021|pp=495-496}} and Col. Shelby Bright in ''Red Pepper'' (1922, Shubert Theatre).{{sfn|Dietz|2019|pp=111-112}}
Quinlan retired from the stage in 1932, and returned to his native town of Elmira where he lived for the rest of his life. He worked as an acting coach in his final years and also directed amateur stage productions.<ref name="Variety">{{cite journal|url=https://archive.org/details/variety139-1940-07/page/n141/mode/1up?q=%22Daniel+J.+Quinlan%22|title=Obituaries: Daniel J. Quinlan|journal=Variety|date=July 17, 1940|page=46}}</ref> Quinlan died during surgery at a hospital in Elmira, New York, on 12 July 1940 at the age of 77.<ref>{{cite news|title=Obituaries: Daniel J. Quinlan|work=Star Tribune|date=July 13, 1940}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=https://archive.org/details/per_chicago-daily-tribune_1940-07-13_99_168/page/12/mode/1up?q=%22Daniel+J.+Quinlan%22|title=Obituaries: Daniel J. Quinlan|page=8|work=Chicago Daily Tribune|date=July 13, 1940|volume= 99|issue= 168}}</ref> At the time of his death, his wife was the head of the drama department at Elmira College. Daniel and his wife had six daughters together.<ref name="Variety" />
== Bibliography == *{{cite book|first1=Dan|last1=Dietz|title=The Complete Book of 1910s Broadway Musicals|publisher=Rowman & Littlefield Publishers|year=2021|isbn=9781538150283|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=LecZEAAAQBAJ}} *{{cite book|first1=Dan|last1=Dietz|title=The Complete Book of 1920s Broadway Musicals|publisher=Rowman & Littlefield Publishers|year=2019|isbn=9781442245280|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=LRmGDwAAQBAJ}}
==References== {{Reflist}}
==External links== * {{IBDB name|id=56754}} * {{Find a Grave | id= 158194888|name=Daniel M. Quinlan}}
{{Authority control}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Quinlan, Dan}} Category:1863 births Category:1940 deaths Category:American musical theatre actors Category:American vaudeville performers Category:Blackface minstrel performers Category:People from Elmira, New York