Leigh Whipper
- Known for
- Acting
- Born
- October 29, 1876
- Died
- July 26, 1975 (aged 98)
- Birthplace
- Charleston, South Carolina, USA
Biography
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. 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
Photos
Filmography
Once Upon a Time in Harlem
Movie · as Self (archival footage)
The Young Don't Cry
Movie · as Doosy
The Shrike
Movie · as Mr. Carlisle
Untamed Fury
Movie · as Uncle Gabe
Undercurrent
Movie · as George
Young Widow
Movie · as Nate (Uncredited), Nate (uncredited)
The Hidden Eye
Movie · as Alistair
The Negro Sailor
Movie · as Editor
Dark Waters
Movie · as Office Custodian (uncredited)
The Ox-Bow Incident
Movie · as Sparks (uncredited)
Happy Land
Movie · as Old Ben (uncredited)
Mission to Moscow
Movie · as Haile Selassie (uncredited)
White Cargo
Movie · as Jim Fish
Heart of the Golden West
Movie · as Rango
The Vanishing Virginian
Movie · as Uncle Josh
Road to Zanzibar
Movie · as Scarface
Bahama Passage
Movie · as Morales
Virginia
Movie · as Ezechial
Robin Hood of the Pecos
Movie · as Kezeye
King of the Zombies
Movie · as Momba
Of Mice and Men
Movie · as Crooks
The Symbol of the Unconquered: A Story of the Ku Klux Klan
Movie · as Tugi - an Indian Fakir
Within Our Gates
Movie