About

Known credits:
21
Birthday:
1876-10-29
Place of birth:
Charleston, South Carolina, USA
Website:
N/A

Leigh Whipper

Overview

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

Acting
1957 The Young Don't Cry Actor Doosy 59
Average
1955 The Shrike Actor Mr. Carlisle 59
Average
1947 Untamed Fury Actor Uncle Gabe 59
Average
1946 Undercurrent Actor George 58
Average
1946 Young Widow Actor Nate (Uncredited) 58
Average
1945 The Negro Sailor Actor Editor N/A
N/A
1945 The Hidden Eye Actor Alistair 59
Average
1943 Happy Land Actor Old Ben (uncredited) 58
Average
1943 Mission to Moscow Actor Haile Selassie (uncredited) 58
Average
1943 The Ox-Bow Incident Actor Sparks (uncredited) 66
Fair
1942 White Cargo Actor Jim Fish 58
Average
1942 Heart of the Golden West Actor Rango N/A
N/A
1942 The Vanishing Virginian Actor Uncle Josh 59
Average
1941 Bahama Passage Actor Morales 59
Average
1941 King of the Zombies Actor Momba 58
Average
1941 Road to Zanzibar Actor Scarface 59
Average
1941 Virginia Actor Ezechial N/A
N/A
1941 Robin Hood of the Pecos Actor Kezeye 59
Average
1939 Of Mice and Men Actor Crooks 61
Fair
1920 The Symbol of the Unconquered Actor Tugi - an Indian Fakir 59
Average
1920 Within Our Gates Actor 58
Average