William Gillette death... Sherlock Holmes...

AI notes: William Gillette (1853–1937) was a seminal American actor, playwright, and stage director, best remembered for his definitive portrayal of Sherlock Holmes, which helped cement the detective’s enduring public image. Debuting his stage adaptation in 1899, Gillette introduced iconic features such as the deerstalker hat and curved pipe, elements that were not originally in Arthur Conan Doyle’s stories but became inseparable from Holmes’ persona. Beyond acting, Gillette was celebrated for his innovative stagecraft, meticulous attention to detail, and ability to bring realism and subtlety to his performances, setting a high standard for theatrical production in his era. He wrote or adapted numerous plays, yet his Holmes role remained his signature, with tours spanning decades and international acclaim. Outside the theater, he expressed his creativity in architecture, designing the whimsical and fortified Gillette Castle in East Haddam, Connecticut, completed in 1919, which remains a lasting testament to his imagination and theatrical flair.