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Edwin Forrest, by Matthew Brady, c. 1850.
Credit: Library of Congress
In 1820, Edwin Forrest made his debut on the stage of Philadelphia's Walnut Street Theatre at the age of fourteen. In his early twenties, Forrest, now a star, began to use his wealth and celebrity to support young American playwrights. For close to a half century, Forrest reigned as the United States' most popular and highly paid actor.