Leigh Whipper
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
Credits
- 1957 · The Young Don't Cry as Doosy
- 1955 · The Shrike as Mr. Carlisle
- 1947 · Untamed Fury as Uncle Gabe
- 1946 · Undercurrent as George
- 1946 · Young Widow as Nate (Uncredited)
- 1945 · The Negro Sailor as Editor
- 1945 · The Hidden Eye as Alistair
- 1943 · Happy Land as Old Ben (uncredited)
- 1943 · Mission to Moscow as Haile Selassie (uncredited)
- 1943 · The Ox-Bow Incident as Sparks (uncredited)
- 1942 · White Cargo as Jim Fish
- 1942 · Heart of the Golden West as Rango
- 1942 · The Vanishing Virginian as Uncle Josh
- 1941 · Bahama Passage as Morales
- 1941 · King of the Zombies as Momba
- 1941 · Road to Zanzibar as Scarface
- 1941 · Virginia as Ezechial
- 1941 · Robin Hood of the Pecos as Kezeye
- 1939 · Of Mice and Men as Crooks
- 1920 · The Symbol of the Unconquered as Tugi - an Indian Fakir
- 1920 · Within Our Gates as