Shot in the head as he watched the play lincoln died the following day at 7 22 am in the petersen house opposite the theater. David selby and robert parsons have both had the chance to portray abraham lincoln on the ford s theatre stage. Abraham lincoln the 16th president of the united states was assassinated by well known stage actor john wilkes booth on april 14 1865 while attending the play our american cousin at ford s theatre in washington d c.