Edwin Thomas Booth

Edwin Thomas Booth (1833-1893), American actor and theater manager, best known for his portrayal of the lead role in William Shakespeare's Hamlet and who is generally considered one of the finest tragic actors of the American stage. Son of the English actor Junius Brutus Booth, Edwin Thomas Booth was born in Bel Air, Maryland. He made his stage debut in Boston, Massachusetts, in 1849 and toured California with his father in 1852, later appearing in other western states and in Australia until 1856. In 1861 Booth made his debut in England, and he later became one of the leading figures on the New York City stage. He managed the Winter Garden Theater in New York City from 1863 to 1865. After his brother John Wilkes Booth assassinated President Abraham Lincoln in 1865, Edwin retired from the stage, but returned a year later. In 1869 he opened his own theater, which was a financial failure. In order to recover his losses, he toured the United States from 1873 to 1879. In 1880 and again in 1882 he appeared in England, where he alternated in repertory performances with the English actor Sir Henry Irving. From 1888 until his death Booth served as the first president of Player's Club, a gentlemen's club with theatrical associations.