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Leigh Whipper

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Leigh Whipper
Whipper as the Crab Man in Porgy (1927)
Born
Leigh Rollin Whipper

(1876-10-29)October 29, 1876
Charleston, South Carolina, U.S.
DiedJuly 26, 1975(1975-07-26) (aged 98)
New York City, U.S.
Alma materHoward University
OccupationActor
Years active1899–1958
Spouse
Lillian E. Myles
​
​
(m. 1904; died 1946)​
ChildrenLeighla Whipper
Parent(s)William James Whipper
Frances Rollin Whipper
RelativesIonia Rollin Whipper (sister)
William Whipper (great-uncle)

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.[1] He created the role of Crooks in the original Broadway production of Of Mice and Men, which he reprised in the 1939 film version.

Biography

Whipper was the son of African-American educator, author and activist Frances Rollin Whipper and a nephew of abolitionist William Whipper, attorney William J. Whipper. Educated at Howard University Law School, he left in 1895 and never practiced as a lawyer.

Without any dramatic training, Whipper made his acting debut in a Philadelphia stock theater production of Uncle Tom's Cabin in 1899.[2] He made his first Broadway appearance in Georgia Minstrels. His first film role was in the 1920 silent film The Symbol of the Unconquered.

A portrait of Whipper entitled "Dans un Café à Paris (Leigh Whipper)" by artist Loïs Mailou Jones, oil on canvas is currently on display at the Brooklyn Museum.[3][1] Quoted from the museum webpage: "The artist’s portrayal of a pensive Whipper answered Alain Locke’s call for black artists to create ennobling representations of African Americans."[2]

During the Second World War, Whipper was a member of the steering committee of Negro Division the Hollywood Victory Committee.[4]

Leigh's daughter, Leighla Frances Whipper, was a Calypso songwriter and music publisher.[5]

Partial filmography

References

  1. ^ The New York Public Library Archives & Manuscripts. "Leigh Rollin Whipper papers". Retrieved October 5, 2013.
  2. ^ Barclay, Dolores (May 25, 1974). "Acting pioneer 'not retired' at 97". Green Bay Press-Gazette. Wisconsin, Green Bay. Associated Press. p. 110. Retrieved August 23, 2019 – via Newspapers.com.
  3. ^ "Brooklyn Museum". www.brooklynmuseum.org. Retrieved December 12, 2019.
  4. ^ Watts, Jill (2006). Hattie McDaniel: Black Ambition, White Hollywood. Amistad. p. 209.
  5. ^ Lewis, Carole (February 11, 2010). "Leighla Frances Whipper". Black Past.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)


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