(February 20, 1829-April 23, 1905)
Acted in 'Our American Cousin,' 'The Rivals,' 'Cricket on the Hearth,' 'Nicholas Nickleby ,' 'The Heir at Law,' 'Dot,' and 'The Octoroon: Or Life in Louisiana'
Portrayed the role of Rip Van Winkle over 4,500 times

He became so identified with the role of Rip Van Winkle that he gave up acting in anything else.
He put together his costume for 'Rip Van Winkle' before a script was even written.
There is a legend that he is a distant cousin of Stan Laurel.
He wrote one of the first show biz autobiographies.
He rose to stardom in the production of 'Our American Cousin,' which Lincoln watched when he was assassinated.

He had left 'Our American Cousin' long before the night Lincoln was killed.
He was perfectly content to play nothing but Rip Van Winkle for the last forty years of his career.
He was good friends with Edwin Booth and would sometimes appear in the cameo role of the First Gravedigger opposite Booth's Hamlet.
In an age when actors were viewed as drunken vagabonds, he was a deeply religious family man.
His autobiography is considered among the greatest theatrical memoirs.
He was the most beloved American actor of the nineteenth century.
The major award honoring excellence in professional theater produced Chicago is named after him.

Credit: Professor Moriarty

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