Actress Fay Templeton was born in Little Rock, Arkansas, on December 25, 1865.  The daughter of vaudevillians, she grew up on stage touring throughout the country.  The family was in town for some performances when she was born.

Templeton made her “legitimate” Broadway debut in 1899’s Helter Skelter, although she had been appearing in New York theatres and opera houses since age 8.  She appeared with many of the leading performers of her day including Weber and Fields, who hired her for their repertory company.

In 1906, she appeared in George M. Cohan’s Forty-five Minutes from Broadway. His recruiting of her for the role was recreated in the musical George M!  She is also portrayed in the Cohan biopic Yankee Doodle Dandy and spoofed by Judy Garland in the movie Babes on Broadway.  Templeton herself did not appear in movies.

In the 1910s, she became the definitive Little Buttercup in New York City productions of HMS Pinafore.  Her final Broadway appearance was in 1933’s Roberta.

Templeton was married several times and lived with other men.  Throughout her career, she would “retire” from the stage but then return when she needed money.  At age 71, she was forced to stop working due to illness. She died at age 73 and is buried in New York.