actor-manager

[ ak-ter-man-uh-jer ]

/ ˈæk tərˈmæn ə dʒər /

a leading actor who produces and usually stars in his or her own productions: Sir Henry Irving was one of the first actor-managers.

Origin of actor-manager

First recorded in 1860–65

Over the mantelpiece, that was Henry Irving, the 19th-century actor-manager who was the first English actor to be knighted.

Spending a Day With Peter O’Toole |Malcolm Jones |December 16, 2013 |DAILY BEAST
The artistic aspiration of the actor-manager may be set on the opposite side of the account.

Shakespeare and the Modern Stage |Sir Sidney Lee
The play would have to be cut about, then; perhaps the actor-manager was disappointed with his own part.

The Education of Eric Lane |Stephen McKenna
And was gone, leaving the actor-manager more at a loss than such events usually found him.

The Cricket |Marjorie Cooke

The actor-manager did not allow us to imagine we met upon terms of equality, but his greetings were gracious.

To Tell You the Truth |Leonard Merrick
Not knowing this, the actor-manager paid him ninepence a night.

The King of Schnorrers |Israel Zangwill