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Barrett (LAWRENCE an American actor)

LAWRENCE, an American actor, born in Paterson, N. J., April 4, 1838. His first appearance on the stage was in 1853. In 1859 he supported Booth, Charlotte Cushman and other eminent actors. He served as a captain in the 28th Massachusetts Infantry in the early part of the Civil War. Later he acted at Philadelphia, Washington, and at Winter Garden, in New York, where he was engaged by Mr. Booth to play Othello to his Iago. After this he became an associate manager of the Varieties Theater, in New Orleans, where for the first time he played the parts of Richelieu, Hamlet, and Shylock. In 1864 he secured "Rosedale" from Lester Wallack, and starred in it. Manager of the California theater, 1867-1870. In the last year he played with Booth at Booth's Theater. In 1871-1872 he was manager of the New Varieties Theater in New Orleans, and in December, 1872, acted Cassius to Booth's Brutus in New York.

During 1873-1874 he made tours through the United States. In 1875 he appeared as Cassius in Booth's Theater, and later as King Lear. In 1882 he brought out "Francesca da Rimini," at the Chestnut Street Theater in Philadelphia. In 1887 he began his first joint engagement with Edwin Booth in Buffalo. Mr. Barrett's last production of a new play was "Guido Ferranti" by Oscar Wilde, in 1890, at the Broadway Theater, New York. His last appearance was on March 18, 1891, at the Broadway Theater as Adrian du Mauprat to the Richelieu of Mr. Booth.

He died in New York City, March 21, 1891.