The Roy Family of Performing Albinos

Now, here is a remarkable family with a persistent gene for albinism which they put to good pecuniary use. The husband billed himself as Rob Roy, after the Scottish hero, though he later admitted his name was James Campbell and he may not have been born in Glasgow but in New York. More is known about his wife, Anna, or Annie Wiser (1863-1941), whom he married in 1891. She was the older sister of fellow performer Lewis Wiser (1865-1951), who billed himself as Unzie the Albino:

Annie and Rob’s son was King Charles Roy (1894-1980), who was billed as “The First Albino Child Born of Albino Parents in the US.”:

King Charles married his first cousin Minnie Belle Wiser (1904-1991), perhaps in the hopes of perpetuating the trait for albinism. And indeed, six of their nine children did carry that trait.

Both generations of Roys performed with the Ringling Brothers and Barnum and Bailey Circuses, prior to their merger, and the Dreamland Circus Sideshow in Coney Island. Their skills included sword swallowing and contortionism. Annie also did a living statue act (exploiting her “alabaster” skin) under the billing of The White Madagascar Princess. Rob Roy performed with Edith Clifford for a couple of seasons; King Charles was pals with three legged man Frank Lentini.

The family eventually settled in Jamestown, Pennsylvania where they operated a farm and several businesses.

More details at the Sword Swallowers Hall of Fame.

For related reading please check out Rose’s Royal Midgets and Other Little People of Vaudeville.