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Actor
Leigh Whipper
- Born October 29, 1876 in Charleston, South Carolina, USA
- Died July 26, 1975
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia Leigh Rollin Whipper (October 29, 1876 – July 26, 1975) was an American actor on the stage and in motion pictures. He was the first African American to join the Actors' Equity Association, and one of the founders of the Negro Actors Guild of America. He is best known for creating the role of Crooks in the original Broadway production of Of Mice and Men, which he reprised in the 1939 film version.
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Educated at Howard University Law School, he left in 1895 and never practiced as a lawyer. Without any dramatic training, he made his first Broadway appearance in Georgia Minstrels. His first film role was in the 1920 silent film The Symbol of the Unconquered. During the Second World War, Whipper was a member of the steering committee of Negro Division the Hollywood Victory Committee.
Known for
The Ox-Bow Incident1943
Within Our Gates1920
Of Mice and Men1939
King of the Zombies1941
Undercurrent1946
Road to Zanzibar1941
Dark Waters1944
Mission to Moscow1943
Filmography
- 2026Once Upon a Time in HarlemFilmSelf (archival footage)
- 1957The Young Don't CryFilmDoosy
- 1955The ShrikeFilmMr. Carlisle
- 1947Untamed FuryFilmUncle Gabe
- 1946UndercurrentFilmGeorge
- 1946Young WidowFilmNate (Uncredited), Nate (uncredited)
- 1945The Hidden EyeFilmAlistair
- 1945The Negro SailorFilmEditor
- 1944Dark WatersFilmOffice Custodian (uncredited)
- 1943The Ox-Bow IncidentFilmSparks (uncredited)
- 1943Mission to MoscowFilmHaile Selassie (uncredited)
- 1943Happy LandFilmOld Ben (uncredited)
- 1942White CargoFilmJim Fish
- 1942Heart of the Golden WestFilmRango
- 1942The Vanishing VirginianFilmUncle Josh
- 1941King of the ZombiesFilmMomba
- 1941Road to ZanzibarFilmScarface
- 1941Bahama PassageFilmMorales
- 1941Robin Hood of the PecosFilmKezeye
- 1941VirginiaFilmEzechial
- 1939Of Mice and MenFilmCrooks
- 1920Within Our GatesFilm
- 1920The Symbol of the Unconquered: A Story of the Ku Klux KlanFilmTugi - an Indian Fakir