Jefferson, Joseph (1829–1905)

US actor. In a career that spanned 71 years he became America's preeminent comedian, describing his own profile as ‘pure nutcracker type’. In 1856 he visited Europe, then returned to join Laura Keene's company where he appeared in The Heir-at-Law and Our American Cousin. His greatest success was his own version of Rip Van Winkle, a role he played solely between 1865 and 1880. He became president of the Players in 1893. His last performance was in 1904 in Cricket on the Hearth, after which he lectured widely and published his autobiography.

He was born in Philadelphia into an old theatre family. He made his debut at the age of four mimicking Thomas D Rice, singer of ‘Jim Crow’. Four of his sons continued the family tradition as actors.