Frederick George Maeder (1840- 9 April 1891, New York City) was an American playwright and actor.[1][2] Born in New York, he was the son of composer and vocal coach James Gaspard Maeder (1809–1876), and his wife, the actress Clara Fisher (1811–1898).[3] He made his professional stage debut in 1859 in Portland, Maine portraying the officer Barnardo in William Shakespeare's Hamlet in a production managed by George Paunceford.[2] As an actor he mainly performed comedic characters, often with an eccentric flair. He was best known during his lifetime as the writer of many plays; crafting works for numerous stage personalities of the second half of the 19th century.[3] In addition to the many plays he wrote alone, he also co-wrote plays with McKee Rankin, among them Wife and Child,[4] The Runaway Wife and The Canuck.[5]
Maeder died of pneumonia at the age of 50 at the home of his brother Gaspard at 311 E 114th St New York, NY 10029.[2]