George Grossmith was born on 9 December 1847. He lived in Dorset Square and also at Russell Square in London. His father, also called George Grossmith, was a journalist, and was among those present at the opening of the first Gaiety Theatre in 1868. His first venture into "show business" was decorous - as an entertainer at the piano for private patrons, in the days when "nice" people did not go to the theatre.

In the 1870s he appeared as a juror in a benefit performance of "Trial by Jury" at the Haymarket Theatre, where he met Arthur Sullivan. Soon afterwards, in Bayswater, he played the major role of the Judge and was noticed by W. S. Gilbert.

These occasions led to a development. Sullivan wrote offering him the part of John Wellington Wells in "The Sorcerer". Mrs. Howard Paul, who was to play Lady Sangazure, ran a small company herself, in which Grossmith had appeared. Hearing of Sullivan's offer to him, she urged him to accept. Despite misgivings, he attended Sullivan's audition, was found acceptable, and was despatched to see Gilbert. He told the librettist he expected they would choose an experienced artist.

"That's just what we don't want," Gilbert replied.

All the directors of the Comedy Opera Company, who then ran the operas, objected to Grossmith, except Gilbert, Sullivan, and Carte. But the latter trio had their way; Grossmith got the part, and was an instantaneous success. From this point until he left the operas he was regarded as the outstanding performer. Yet prior to "The Sorcerer" he had had no real stage experience.

Grossmith was very fond of "Princess Ida", and there is certainly much to be said for his opinion that this opera had the finest music of all. He claimed that the King Gama solo "I can't think why" was one of the best Sullivan ever wrote. This excellent piece of satire certainly provided the actor with further scope to display his skill in characterisation.

After "The Yeomen of the Guard" Grossmith, who had put up with much at Gilbert's hands, quit the stage and returned to his former piano entertaining, and with his now-established reputation was highly successful. He also achieved great success as part-author, with his brother Weedon, of "The Diary of a Nobody".

He was offered the part of the Iron Duke in the "Gondoliers" but considered it to be too small a part.

He died on 1st March l912 – some nine months after Gilbert.

His son, George Grossmith, junior, made his stage debut at the Criterion in 1892 in "Haste to the Wedding", an adaptation of "The Wedding March", which Gilbert had produced in 1873. Gilbert specially wrote the Criterion piece for Grossmith junior's debut. Grossmith junior went on to become very famous in his own right - appearing in many George Edwardes productions, from "The Shop Girl" to "Our Miss Gibbs"

He lived from 1874 - 1936 at 3 Glannis Place, off Manchester Square, London.