Forrest, Edwin, 1806–72, American actor, b. Philadelphia. He was the first national idol of the American theater. He appeared at 14 as Young Norval in Home's Douglas and gained experience supporting Edmund Kean in Shakespearean roles. His New York debut (1826) as Othello established Forrest as one of the century's great tragedians. His acting was bold and forceful, and he was often criticized for ranting. In England in 1845, his Macbeth was received with hostility by those who favored William Charles Macready. Their rivalry brought about the Astor Place riot (1849) in New York, in which partisans of Forrest demonstrated against Macready and many were killed. Throughout his career Forrest championed native dramas and performers.

Bibliography

See biographies by R. Moody (1960) and W. R. Alger (1877, repr. 1972); The Astor Place Riot (1958) by R. A. Moody.

Forrest, Edwin

(born March 9, 1806, Philadelphia, Pa., U.S.—died Dec. 12, 1872, Philadelphia) U.S. actor. He made his stage debut in Philadelphia in 1820. He played Othello in New York (1826) to great acclaim and became known for his Shakespearean roles. His feud with the English actor William Macready sparked the so-called Astor Place riot (1849), in which Forrest's supporters mobbed the theatre where Macready was appearing. The militia was called out, the rioters attacked, and the militia fired, killing 22 and wounding 36. Forrest's reputation never fully recovered; it was further damaged when he filed a divorce suit on grounds of adultery.

Forrest, Edwin (1806–72) actor; born in Philadelphia. He was a strikingly handsome, flamboyant man who excelled in tragic roles. A great favorite among ordinary theater-goers, his acting style was seen as a breath of fresh air in contrast to the more tightly restrained British model. But he was criticized by those who found vulgar his tendency to show off his physique and powerful voice. His first stage role was in 1817 when he stood in for an actress in the small role of a harem girl; his true debut was in 1820 in Douglas. After this he toured for a time, then made his extremely successful New York debut as Iago in Othello (1826). A pugnacious character who had numerous financial and marital problems, his rivalry with actor William Macready led to the 1849 Astor Place Riots, in New York City, where 30 were killed during a fight between the actors' adherents. Forest fell out of favor as new styles of performance became popular. His last performance was in 1872 at the Globe Theatre in Boston.