Born Daniel Webster O'Brien, Dan and his brothers Jerry Bryant and Neil Cornelius Bryant took the stage surname of Bryant and formed Bryant's Minstrels in 1857. Dan Bryant became the best known of the brothers. Elder brother Jerry Bryant (1828-1861) was already on the stage when Dan first performed as a dancer in New York City in 1845. In 1849-50, Dan Bryant performed with the Sable Harmonists in Southern and Western states, and later in 1850 he began performing with Charley White's Melodeon Minstrels in New York City. From 1857 to 1866, Bryant's Minstrels performed at Mechanics' Hall in New York City. Jerry Bryant played tambourine and bones, danced, and was a comedian, Dan Bryant played the banjo, danced, and was a comedian, in what was called a "Negro dialect," and Neil Bryant played accordion and flutina. From 1858 to 1866, Daniel Decatur Emmett (1815-1904) performed with Bryant's Minstrels, except for one season (1861-62), playing banjo, singing, and writing songs, and dialogue. Bryant's Minstrels were considered the most genuine of minstrels. In 1859, Bryant's Minstrels first performed Dan Emmett's song "Dixie's Land," and soon the song was simply known as "Dixie." In addition to Bryant's Minstrels, Dan Bryant took his debut in white face in 1863, playing the Irish character "Handy Andy" in New York City, and then played Irish characters in other American and English theatres. He died of double pneumonia and was survived by his wife (Ellen Fitzgibbons) and several children. A Solemn Requiem Mass was performed at the Church of Saint Paul the Apostle (Roman Catholic), in New York City.

Name David W. Bryant
Event Type Death
Event Date 10 Apr 1875
Event Place Manhattan, New York, New York, United States
Residence Place about 32 years
Gender Male
Age 42
Marital Status Married
Race White
Birth Year (Estimated) 1833
Birthplace New York State (hosp)
Burial Date 14 Apr 1875
Burial Place Calvary Cemetery
Father's Birthplace Ireland
Mother's Birthplace Ireland