Robert L. Downing (1857–1944) was an American stage actor who specialized in Shakespeare characterizations. As a young actor he toured with Mary Anderson 1880–1884 and Joseph Jefferson 1884–1886. He became a star in his own right in 1886 and afterward performed Shakespearean parts. He was born in Washington, D.C., and after retiring from acting in 1908 he became a preacher.^[2][3]