Junius Brutus Booth (1796-1852) as Richard III.

Booth attained distinction in this role at Covent Garden, London in 1817, but emigrated from Britain to the USA in 1821. Richard III was the first Shakespeare play staged in America, by Thomas Kean in New York on March 5, 1750 (perhaps after presenting it in Philadelphia). George Frederick Cooke (1756–1812) and Edmund Kean (see Gallery 2.3.33) also began their American tours in the role. It was enacted later by Edwin Forrest, William Macready, and Edwin Booth (see Gallery 7.1.15). When Junius Booth first performed it, the National Advocate noted, “In the conception of the character of the crooked back tyrant, Mr. Booth seems to be perfect. He exhibited none of those stage tricks, which many, who undertake the part, substitute for their lack of judgment.” Later distinguished New York performances included John Barrymore's (1920), followed in New York by George C. Scott (1957), Donald Madden (1970), Al Pacino (1979), Kevin Kline (1983), and Denzel Washington (1990). See Wikipedia for further career details about these performances.