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.