George L. Aiken (1830-1876) was a nineteenth century American playwright and actor who is best known for writing the most popular of the numerous stage adaptations of Harriet Beecher Stowe’s Uncle Tom’s Cabin. Aiken was a writer of dime novels before he turned to theatre. He became an actor in the troupe of his cousin, George C. Howard. In 1852, shortly after the publication of Stowe’s Uncle Tom’s Cabin, Aiken wrote his stage adaptation. His other works include a dramatization of Ann S. Stephen’s novel The Old Homestead. He retired from the stage in 1867.