 Artistic African American Voices –I for Color brings key innovators to light for the knowledge and enjoyment of us all. Daryl’s Tribe Vibe Radiois proud to feature this monthly series to highlight these artistic African Americans from theatre,music,poetry and other areas of art.Artistic African American Voices –I for Color is a special 12-month feature by Dale Ricardo Shields who is also an Actor,Director and Archivist of Black Theatre African American Voices. |
Leigh Whipper as "Sparks"in the OxBow Incident,1943
Born in (1876) Charleston,South Carolina,died (1975) New York City,New York.
The first Black member of the Actors’ Equity Association (1913).
Mr. Whipper’s first Broadway appearance was in Georgia Minstrels.
He appeared next in the classical Broadway productions of Stevedore,Of Mice and Men,Lysistrata and Porgy.
Mr. Whipper achieved national fame for his characterization of the Crabman of the Catfish Row in Porgy.
Leigh Whipper
He made his film debut as a bit player in Oscar Micheaux’s silent race films,Symbol of the Unconquered (1920) and Within Our Gates (1920).
He later starred in the Hollywood films Of Mice and Men (1939),and The Oxbow Incident (1943).
He maintained lifelong activity as a member of the Actors Equity Association (1913),American Federation of Radio Artists (1937) and the Screen Actors Guild (1933).
He was a founding member of the Negro Actors Guild of America (1937).
Mr. Whipper retired from the screen and stage in 1972 and settled in Harlem,New York,where he died in 1975 at the age of 98.
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