Image of Leigh Whipper

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.


Read bio at tmdb | Read bio at Wikipedia
Born:
Oct 29, 1876 In Charleston, South Carolina, USA
Movie/TV Credits:
21
First Appeared:
In the movie Within Our Gates 1920-01-12
Latest Project:
Movie The Young Don't Cry 1957-07-26
Known For
Poster of Young Widow
Poster of The Hidden Eye
Poster of Mission to Moscow
Poster of The Symbol of the Unconquered
Filmography
Movie The Young Don't Cry Doosy 1957-07-26
Movie The Shrike Mr. Carlisle 1955-06-16
Movie Untamed Fury Uncle Gabe 1947-03-22
Movie Undercurrent George 1946-11-11
Movie Young Widow Nate (Uncredited) 1946-03-01
Movie The Hidden Eye Alistair 1945-08-31
Movie The Negro Sailor Editor 1945-12-13
Movie The Ox-Bow Incident Sparks (uncredited) 1943-03-11
Movie Mission to Moscow Haile Selassie (uncredited) 1943-04-29
Movie Happy Land Old Ben (uncredited) 1943-11-10
Movie The Vanishing Virginian Uncle Josh 1942-02-01
Movie White Cargo Jim Fish 1942-12-12
Movie Heart of the Golden West Rango 1942-11-16
Movie Robin Hood of the Pecos Kezeye 1941-01-14
Movie Road to Zanzibar Scarface 1941-04-11
Movie Virginia Ezechial 1941-01-28
Movie Bahama Passage Morales 1941-12-10
Movie King of the Zombies Momba 1941-05-14
Movie Of Mice and Men Crooks 1939-12-24
Movie Within Our Gates 1920-01-12
Movie The Symbol of the Unconquered Tugi - an Indian Fakir 1920-11-28