Edwin Booth was a celebrated 19th-century American actor who toured throughout the United States and the major capitals of Europe. He was particularly acclaimed for his performances in Shakespearean tragedies, with his portrayal of Hamlet being especially legendary. Despite his family's notoriety due to his brother John Wilkes Booth's assassination of President Abraham Lincoln, Edwin's career thrived and he remained a respected figure. He founded Booth's Theatre in New York City in 1869 and later established The Players, a private club for actors and artists.