Hollywood still fascinated by Abraham Lincoln 150 years after his death

TORONTO — In the 150 years since his death, Abraham Lincoln has been portrayed on screen more than any other American president.

Lincoln served four years before he was shot in the head by John Wilkes Booth in 1865 while watching a performance of Our American Cousin at Ford’s Theatre in Washington, D.C.

He was pronounced dead on the morning of April 15, 1865.

Since the dawn of filmmaking, Hollywood has been fascinated by the life and death of the 16th president of the United States.

More than 350 actors have portrayed Lincoln on the big screen and on television — from Charles Brabin in 1911’s His First Commission to Robert Broski in the forthcoming Trip to the Moon.

Lincoln has been played by a variety of actors over the years, including at least two Canadians — Toronto’s Walter Huston (in 1930’s Abraham Lincoln) and Raymond Massey (in 1940’s Abe Lincoln in Illinois).

View image in full screen

Daniel Day-Lewis won an Oscar for portraying the president in 2012’s Lincoln.

Lincoln has also been played for laughs by everyone from Will Forte (in 2003’s Clone High and last year’s The LEGO Movie) to Gilbert Gottfried (in 2014’s A Million Ways to Die in the West).

In real life, Lincoln abolished slavery but on screen he has saved the U.S. from vampires (in 2012’s Abraham Lincoln: Vampire Hunter) and zombies (in 2012’s Abraham Lincoln vs. Zombies).

View image in full screen

BELOW: Watch the trailer for Lincoln starring Daniel Day-Lewis.

BELOW: Watch the trailer for Abraham Lincoln: Vampire Slayer.