Harry hawk biography

American actor (1837–1916)

Harry Hawk (April 28, 1837 – May 28, 1916) was an American actor and comedian, remembered as the only performer on stage at Ford's Theatre at the moment Abraham Lincoln was shot on April 14, 1865.

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Early life

William Henry Hawk was born in Philadelphia in 1837 to William J. Hawk and his wife, but the family moved to Chicago when he was young. He began theater work as a call boy, or stagehand, at McVicker's Theatre in Chicago. After two years, he left to work for John E. Owens at the Variety Theatre in New Orleans.^[1] His first stage role was in 1859 in The Little Treasurer.^[2] He made his way back north with the onset of the American Civil War, and by the early 1860s he was appearing in billed roles including, for example, the role of Mark Meddle in London Assurance, and Davy in The Phantom.^[3][4][5]

Assassination of Abraham Lincoln

On tour with Laura Keene's stage company in Harry the Hawk – Advertising Week TOSIM