HACKETT, JAMES HENRY (1800-71), American actor, was born in New York. In 1826 he went on the stage, where he soon established a reputation as a player of eccentric character parts. As Falstaff he was no less successful in England than in America. At various times he went into management, and he was the author of Notes and Comments on Shakespeare (1863) .
His son, JAMES KETELTAS HACKETT (1869-1926), born at Wolfe Island, Ont., also became an actor and had considerable success in romantic and Shakesperian parts. He died in Paris on Nov. 8, 1926.