Booth, Junius Brutus, senior

Booth, Junius Brutus, senior (1796–1852), English-born American actor, eldest of a notable theatre family. Trained for the law, he went on the stage at 17 and after touring for some years appeared at Covent Garden as Richard III, almost immediately entering into rivalry with Edmund Kean. He was also seen as Sir Giles Overreach in Massinger's A New Way to Pay Old Debts, Posthumus Leonatus in Cymbeline, and in 1818 as Shylock. Two years later he went to Drury Lane, where he played Iago to Kean's Othello, Edgar to his Lear, and Pierre to his Jaffier in Otway's Venice Preserv'd. In 1821 he went to America, and from then until his death he was constantly seen there, making his first appearance as Richard III, and becoming manager of several theatres. Among his other achievements was the playing in French of Oreste in Racine's Andromaque, and he is said to have played Shylock in Hebrew. He was a rough and unpolished actor but full of grandeur and eloquence, with a resonant voice and ample gestures. There was a streak of madness in him, aggravated by intemperance. His sons Edwin and John Wilkes (above) were on the stage, as was Junius Brutus junior (see BOOTH, AGNES).