Since hisdeath in 1865,Abraham Lincoln has been an iconic American figure depicted, usually favorably or heroically, in many forms. Lincoln has often been portrayed by Hollywood, almost always in a flattering light.[1][2] He has been depicted in a wide range of forms including alternative timelines, animation, documentary, small cameos, and fictionalized interpretations.
Statues of Abraham Lincoln can be found in the United States and in other countries. InCiudad Juárez,Chihuahua,Mexico, is a 13-foot (4 m) high bronze statue, a gift from the United States, dedicated in 1966 by PresidentLyndon B. Johnson. The U.S. received a statue ofBenito Juárez in exchange, which is in Washington, D.C. Juárez and Lincoln exchanged friendly letters during the American Civil War. Mexico remembers Lincoln's opposition to theMexican–American War. (For his part, Juárez refused to aid the Confederacy and jailed those Confederates who sought his help.) There is also a statue inTijuana, Mexico, showing Lincoln standing and destroying the chains of slavery. There are at least three statues of Lincoln in theUnited Kingdom—one inParliament Square inLondon byAugustus Saint-Gaudens, one inManchester byGeorge Grey Barnard and another inEdinburgh byGeorge Bissell. There is also a bust of the President at St Andrews Church inHingham, Norfolk, where Lincoln's ancestors lived. InHavana, Cuba, there is a bust of Abraham Lincoln in theMuseum of the Revolution, a small statue of him in front of the Abraham Lincoln School, and a bust of him near theCapitolio. InQuito, Ecuador, a statue of Lincoln can be found in the Plaza Abraham Lincoln. Avenida Abraham Lincoln, inSanto Domingo,Dominican Republic is one of the capital city's most important and trafficked streets. In theBuenos Aires Province,Argentina, there is a city namedLincoln.
Shortly after Lincoln's death, hundreds of poems were written on the topic. The historianStephen B. Oates noted that "never had the nation mourned so over a fallen leader" while the professorWilliam Pannapacker argued "Perhaps no event in American history produced so great an outpouring of verse." Describing Lincoln as a martyr became a "popular sub-genre."[3]
Walt Whitman was fascinated by Lincoln during the Civil War and wrote several poems about him after his death.[4] Whitman's Lincoln poems are:
Lincoln himself wrote poetry[14] and at least one piece of fiction loosely based upon one of the murder cases he defended as a young lawyer. In April 1846,The Quincy Whig published Lincoln's short story under the title "A Remarkable Case of Arrest for Murder". The story was republished in March 1952 byEllery Queen's Mystery Magazine and retitled "The Trailor Murder Mystery." Lincoln refers to his own unnamed character as "the defense" and "the writer of this".[15]
InJules Verne's 1870 novel,Twenty Thousand Leagues Under the Seas, a fictitious steam frigate, theAbraham Lincoln, is sent to hunt down the "monster" that has been attacking ships at sea, and is attacked itself.Captain Nemo also has a portrait of Lincoln hanging in his study on board theNautilus. In the sequelThe Mysterious Island, the five shipwreckedUnion prisoners name the island which they discover, "Lincoln Island".
The German writerKarl May wrote two stories about Canada Bill Jones:Ein Self-man (1878) andThree carde monte (1879).[16] The narrator meets several times with the young Abraham Lincoln and together they oppose "Kanada-Bill". Both stories have in common the first meeting of the heroes: The narrator finds Lincoln in a forest training to orate.[17]
The first motion picture based on Lincoln was 1908 filmThe Reprieve: An Episode in the Life of Abraham Lincoln. Directed byVan Dyke Brooke, the film shows Lincoln pardoning a sentry who fell asleep on duty, a theme that would be depicted repeatedly in other silent era shorts. This era is also when the first Abraham Lincoln impersonators originated, and the modern idea of what he sounded like is derived from these.[13]
The Heart of Lincoln was a film made in 1915 and remade in 1922, with the latter version lost until 2024. "The 65-minute film was directed byFrancis Ford, who also played Lincoln.... [E]xperts say it's a valuable artifact of film history".[19]
George MacDonald Fraser's 1971 novelFlash for Freedom! features a young Abraham Lincoln at the time that he was a Congressman. Anti-hero narrator and self-confessed cadHarry Flashman describes him as having "the makings of as big a scoundrel as I am myself".
In the Belgian comic seriesLucky Luke, Abraham Lincoln appears in a cameo as the president of the United States in the album "Le Fil qui chante" released in 1977 byMorris (artist) andRene Goscinny (writer). He commissions the construction of theFirst Transcontinental Telegraph and Lucky Luke volunteers to help. Lincoln re-appears in the comic "Lucky Luke contre Pinkerton" released in 2010 byAchde (artist) and Daniel Pennac and Tonino Benacquista (writers), where he assignsAllan Pinkerton to be his personal guard.
Lincoln impersonator Rex Hamilton was introduced in the opening credits of each episode ofPolice Squad! shooting back at John Wilkes Booth, though he would not further appear in any episodes.[23]
The 1987 American TV seriesAmerika displays an America occupied by Soviet troops. Lincoln's image is displayed along Marx's and Lenin's in parades, exemplifying the re-interpretation of American symbols by the new state.
In the sketch comedy seriesSCTV,Joe Flaherty plays a time-traveler Lincoln going to the past to chase the child John Wilkes Booth through time with a gun to prevent his assassination, repeatedly failing attempts to kill Booth.Catherine O'Hara plays Mrs. Lincoln who asks her time traveler husband where her future is to lead her. When he casually responds "in an insane asylum", she proclaims her foresight ability, responding "I knew it!"
In theRed Dwarf episode "Meltdown", Lincoln (played byJack Klaff) was featured as a Waxdroid in a theme park planet called Waxworld, where evil waxdroids and good waxdroids are fighting.
In the first installment ofSid Meier's Civilization (1991), Lincoln is featured as the playable leader of the Americans.
In the alternate history short storyThe Lincoln Train byMaureen F. McHugh, Abraham Lincoln survives his assassination attempt by John Wilkes Booth, but is rendered avegetable, and incapable of governing the nation. This leads toWilliam H. Seward becoming acting president and instigating a harsh policy of Reconstruction.
A&E Biography: "Abraham Lincoln - Preserving the Union" (1997)
An Abraham Lincoln robot acts as a defense attorney forAfrican-American children Leon, Kahlil, LaShawn and Pee-Wee inBebe's Kids (1992).
Lincoln appears in theAnimaniacs episode "Four Score and Seven Migraines Ago" (1993), voiced byPeter Renaday. He is assisted in writing the Gettysburg Address by the Warners.
In the 1993 filmConeheads,Dan Aykroyd's character dresses as Lincoln for a costume ball, as the President's stovepipe hat effectively covers his cone-shaped head.
In an episode of the HBO sketch comedy seriesMr. Show, Abraham Lincoln is portrayed (in an openly historically inaccurate skit) as the man who designed the American flag.Tom Kenny portrayed Lincoln as speaking in a thick New York accent.
In Harry Turtledove's alternate history novelHow Few Remain (1997), set in 1881–2, part of theSouthern Victory Series, Lincoln is a viewpoint character. As a disgraced former president, he travels to the western territories on a speaking tour, and founds anAmerican socialist movement.
In the DC ComicsElseworld titleSuperman: A Nation Divided, a reimagining of Superman's origins as coming into his powers during theAmerican Civil War, President Lincoln features heavily. He is first seen reading field reports by GeneralUlysses S. Grant that describe "Atticus" Kent's special abilities. Lincoln then assumes Grant has been drinking until Kent himself shows up at the White House. After Kent helps win the war, he accompanies Lincoln to theFord Theater where he preventsJohn Wilkes Booth's assassination attempt. After this, Lincoln is seen to be one of the most popular presidents in history, serving two full terms.
In 1998,Scott McCloud wrote and drew the graphic novelThe New Adventures of Abraham Lincoln, in which the president seemingly returns to life in the present day; however, it is in fact a disguisedBenedict Arnold, working for aliens in a plot to conquer the world. He is unmasked by the true Lincoln, who also returns from the dead.
InGangs of New York (2002),Leonardo DiCaprio andDaniel Day-Lewis's characters attend a performance of the playUncle Tom's Cabin in which an actor representing Lincoln is suspended in mid-air (with his body apparently backwards) to address theblackface actors. An audience member interrupts him, as theimmigrant audience members begin throwing objects at Lincoln and rioting.
InThe Master of Disguise (2002), Pistachio Disguisey's grandfather tells him about the family legacy. In one part of the story, he tells about the Disguiseys helping Lincoln get elected.
ThoughThe Grim Adventures of Billy & Mandy andEvil Con Carne are set in modern times, Lincoln (voiced byPeter Renaday) is strangely used to portray the President of the United States. One episode ofThe Grim Adventures of Billy & Mandy features him as Grim's replacement in Billy and Mandy's group of friends.
In the 2004alternative historymockumentaryC.S.A.: The Confederate States of America, Abraham Lincoln flees after theSouth wins thewar and annexes the northern states.Harriet Tubman attempts to help him flee toCanada inblackface makeup, but they are soon captured. He later declares, "Now I too am aNegro". Lincoln quickly tried for war crimes against the Confederacy and was imprisoned inFortress Monroe, Virginia while Tubman is executed. In 1866, Lincoln—frail and gaunt from his two-year sentence—is fully pardoned byConfederate PresidentJefferson Davis and exiled to Canada. Lincoln remains until he dies in June 1905 at the age of 96. Shortly before his death, Lincoln laments not having made the Civil War a battle to end slavery.
In the 2006American Dad! episode "Lincoln Lover",Stan Smith decides to write a one-man play to show his admiration for Lincoln and unwittingly ends up portraying him as a homosexual, attracting the attention of theLog Cabin Republicans.
In an episode ofThe Venture Bros., the ghost of Lincoln requests the help of Hank and Dean to save the current president from being killed.
In the fourth episode of the 2007 gameSam & Max Save the World, the statue of Lincoln at the Lincoln Memorial is converted into a giant robot. He returns in the game's final episode, and becomes a major recurring character in its sequels.
Futurama featured different depictions of Abraham Lincoln:
He is ranked fourth inElectronic Gaming Monthly's list of the top ten video game politicians for his appearance inFight Club for the PlayStation 2.[24]
TheInvincible comic book features Lincoln as an alter-ego of the superhero Immortal, who faked his death after his supposed assassination before reappearing in the modern day as a costumed crime-fighter.
In the 2011 director's cut ofGods and Generals based onthe book of same name Lincoln was played by Christian Kauffman during a few added scenes, including one where Lincoln watchesMacbeth featuringJohn Wilkes Booth where Booth gives the "Dagger of the Mind" soliloquy while staring intently at Lincoln.
In the 2010-2019 TV showAdventure Time, Abraham Lincoln (voiced byPendleton Ward) is depicted as the King of Mars in the 2007 short and in the main series episode "Sons of Mars". He is also mentioned in other episodes throughout the series.
Abraham Lincoln appears in the cold opening of theBatman: The Brave and the Bold episode "Mitefall", voiced again by Peter Renaday. This version of Abraham Lincoln is from Parallel Universe 5501. While watching "Our American Cousin" with Mary, he is saved from John Wilkes Booth's assassination attempt by a Multiverse-hopping Batman who considers himself a longtime admirer of Abraham Lincoln. When John Wilkes Booth activated his steam-powered armor, Abraham Lincoln helped Batman to defeat John Wilkes Booth. Afterwards, Abraham Lincoln thanked Batman and states that reconstruction of their union can go on unabated. As Mary embraces Abraham Lincoln, Batman quotes "It was an honor to fight by your side President Lincoln." As Batman opens a portal to his next destination, he adds on to his comment "of Parallel Universe 5501" as he enters the portal.
InThe Lego Movie, Abraham Lincoln (voiced again byWill Forte) is one of the Master Builders. Abraham Lincoln's toy bio states that he lives in a log cabin that he built all by himself, in the middle of a forest that he built all by himself, then cut down, and then rebuilt all by himself again. Abraham Lincoln is among the Master Builders that meet in Cloud Cuckoo Land and to express his disdain towards Emmet where he commented "A house divided against itself... would be better than this!" Then he rode his white rocket chair that contains a large booster at the bottom of the chair, out of the "Dog" in Cloud Cuckoo Land much to the dismay of Emmet. He later joined in the battle against Lord Business and his forces in Bricksburg where his rocket chair carriedMichelangelo Buonarroti andWilliam Shakespeare. In thesequel, Lincoln was falling into the black hole during "Armageddon" as he says "I had theater tickets tonight!" as a reference to his assassination.
Abraham Lincoln also had a Collectable Minifigure Series containing him. The Lego figure itself comes with all parts exclusive to him except his legs. He has a top hat with a neck beard attached, suit and bow tie, black legs, and a piece of paper as an accessory containing his famous speech that says "four score and seven years ago" in cursive at the top of the accessory in reference to theGettysburg Address. He was also made a minifigure after the release of theLEGO Movie 2 in 2019, he wears a steampunk style top hat with goggles, an angry face expression, and a hatchet.
Lincoln is featured as central character in the 2015 videogameCode Name: S.T.E.A.M., voiced byWil Wheaton. This version of the character staged his own assassination, allowing him to disappear from the public eye and concentrate on running the S.T.E.A.M. strike force to combat the impending alien invasion.
The 2015 novellaThe Well-Dressed Wound byDerek McCormack depicts Abraham and Mary Todd Lincoln conducting aséance to communicate with their dead son,Willie.
Lincoln appears in the season 1 episode "The Assassination of Abraham Lincoln" of the NBC seriesTimeless, portrayed byMichael Krebs. In that episode, Abraham Lincoln was killed by time-traveler and former NSA asset Garcia Flynn despite Juliet Shakesman's attempt to warn him of an attempt on his life. She does, however, prevent Garcia in also taking outUlysses S. Grant, who was also present.
The Better Angels, aka,The Green Blade Rises, produced byTerrence Malick, focused on Lincoln's upbringing, showing the events and tragedies that forged him into the man he became.
Lincoln is featured in the 2018 film documentaryThe Gettysburg Address, voiced byDavid Morse.
Abraham Lincoln was portrayed by Carel Nel inGrant, a miniseries that aired on theHistory Channel from May 25, 2020, to May 27, 2020, and a depiction of Lincoln's top General Ulysses S. Grant, who later became president.
In November 2022, Lincoln was added toCivilization VI as a playable leader of the United States as part of the Leader Pass DLC. Previously,Theodore Roosevelt was the only American leader featured in the game.[27]
UsefulCharts onYouTube featured Abraham Lincoln and his family's history. The video discusses Lincoln's ancestors as well as his descendants.[28]
In the children's book,My Day with Abe Lincoln, written by historian Jonathan W. White and illustrated by Madeline Renaux, a present-day girl travels back in time and attends school with the young Abe Lincoln and his sister, participating in actual events from Lincoln's childhood.[29]
In the comedic playOh, Mary! (launched on Broadway on July 11, 2024), Abraham Lincoln was portrayed byConrad Ricamora. In this alternate history, while Lincoln deals with the stress of being president following the Civil War, he also struggles with his homosexual urges.
The play, "Sic Semper Tyrannis was performed once as a one man play, written and performed by Elliot Behrman at his home with his family as an audience on December 25, 2025
Hiltrop, Marleen, and Sara Polak. "George Saunders'Lincoln in the Bardo: semiotic explorations of Abraham Lincoln in American cultural memory".Rethinking History 26.4 (2022): 551–568.online
Schwartz, Barry. "Collective Memory and History: How Abraham Lincoln Became a Symbol of Racial Equality."Sociological Quarterly 38.3 (1997): 469–496.online
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