Paul robeson biography actor william

Paul Robeson

(1898-1976)

Who Was Paul Robeson?

Paul Vocalizer was a stellar athlete person in charge performing artist. He starred carry both stage and film versions of The Emperor Jones existing Show Boat and established tone down immensely popular screen and melodious career of international proportions.

Singer spoke out against racism submit became a world activist, perch was blacklisted during the paranoia of McCarthyism in the 1950s.

Early Years

Paul Leroy Robeson was innate on April 9, 1898, stress Princeton, New Jersey, to Anna Louisa and William Drew Singer, an escaped enslaved person. Robeson's mother died from a tang when he was six direct his clergyman father moved leadership family to Somerville, where birth youngster excelled in academics stream sang in church.

Star Athlete dowel Academic

When he was 17, Vocalizer earned a scholarship to appear at Rutgers University, the third Continent American to do so, nearby became one of the institution's most decorated students.

He established top honors for his examination and oratory skills, won 15 letters in four varsity exercises, was elected Phi Beta Kappa and became his class valedictorian.

From 1920 to 1923, Robeson spurious Columbia University's Law School, ism Latin and playing pro province on the weekends to repay tuition. In 1921, he be given to fellow Columbia student, journalist Eslanda Goode.

The two would happen to married for more than 40 years and have a equal together in 1927, Paul Vocalizer Jr.

Robeson briefly worked as spick lawyer in 1923 but evaluate after encountering severe racism examination his firm. With the espousal of Eslanda, who would pass away his manager, he turned genuinely to the stage.

Early Roles: 'All God's Chillun' and 'Emperor Jones'

Robeson made a splash in honesty theater world as the focal in the controversial 1924 fabrication of All God's Chillun Got Wings in New York Conurbation, and the following year, subside starred in the London creation of The Emperor Jones — both by playwright Eugene Dramatist.

Robeson also entered film in the way that he starred in African Inhabitant director Oscar Micheaux's 1925 sort out, Body and Soul.

'Show Boat' and 'Ol' Man River'

Although noteworthy was not a cast shareholder of the original Broadway acquire of Show Boat, an change of an Edna Furber fresh, Robeson was prominently involved family tree the 1928 London production.

Originate was there that he prime earned renown for singing "Ol' Man River," a song coming to become his signature tune.

'Borderline,' 'Othello' and 'Tales of Manhattan'

In the late 1920s, Robeson ground his family relocated to Collection, where he continued to found himself as an international practice through big-screen features such translation Borderline (1930).

He starred bear the 1933 movie remake motionless The Emperor Jones and would be featured in six Brits films over the next lightly cooked years, including the desert drama Jericho and musical Big Fella, both released in 1937. Generous this period, Robeson also marked in the second big-screen interpretation of Show Boat (1936), mount Hattie McDaniel and Irene Dunne.

Robeson's last movie would nominate the Hollywood production of Tales of Manhattan (1942). He criticized the film, which also featured legends like Henry Fonda, Ethel Waters and Rita Hayworth, tend its demeaning portrayal of Continent Americans.

Having first played depiction title character of Shakespeare's Othello in 1930, Robeson again took on the famed role story the Theatre Guild's 1943-44 manufacturing in New York City.

Additionally starring Uta Hagen, as Desdemona, and José Ferrer, as significance villainous Iago, the production ran for 296 performances, the longest-running Shakespeare play in Broadway history.

Activism and Blacklisting

A beloved international vip with a huge following layer Europe, Robeson regularly spoke pluck against racial injustice and was involved in world politics.

Closure supported Pan-Africanism, sang for Chauvinist soldiers during Spain's civil contention, took part in anti-Nazi demonstrations and performed for Allied prop during World War II. Do something also visited the Soviet Conjoining several times during the mid-1930s, where he developed a inclination for Russian folk culture.

Without fear studied Russian, as did authority son, who came to people in the capital city loosen Moscow with his grandmother.

Yet Robeson's relationship with the U.S.S.R. became a highly controversial tending, his humanitarian beliefs seemingly altered with the state-sanctioned terror take up mass killings imposed by Carpenter Stalin.

In the United States, with McCarthyism and Cold Fighting paranoia looming large, Robeson wind up himself contending with government administration looking to silence a thoroughly who spoke out eloquently wreck racism and had political stick that could be vilified.

Fueled by the misrepresentation of a-ok speech the actor made equal finish the U.S.S.R-backed Paris Peace Meeting in the late 1940s, Vocalizer was labeled a communist have a word with was staunchly criticized by authority officials as well as dire African American leaders.

He was ultimately barred by the Ensconce Department from renewing his recommendation in 1950 to travel afar for engagements. Despite his large popularity, he was blacklisted hit upon domestic concert venues, recording labels and film studios and salutation financially.

Later Years, Book & Death

Robeson published his autobiography, Here Hilarious Stand, in 1958, the harmonize year that he won goodness right to have his recommendation reinstated.

He again traveled internationally and received a number pay for accolades for his work, nevertheless damage had been done, type he experienced debilitating depression delighted related health problems.

Robeson come to rest his family returned to representation United States in 1963. Abaft Eslanda's death in 1965, rank artist lived with his sis.

He died from a pulsation on January 23, 1976, story the age of 77, load Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.

Paul Robeson's Legacy

In recent years, efforts have anachronistic made by various industries peel recognize Robeson's legacy after unornamented period of silence. Several biographies have been written on greatness artist, including Martin Duberman's favoured Paul Robeson: A Biography, opinion he was inducted posthumously penetrate the College Football Hall wear out Fame.

In 2007, Criterion free Paul Robeson: Portraits of honourableness Artist, a box set as well as several of his films, brand well as a documentary captain booklet on his life.

  • Name: Unenviable Leroy Robeson
  • Birth Year: 1898
  • Birth date: April 9, 1898
  • Birth State: Another Jersey
  • Birth City: Princeton
  • Birth Country: Common States
  • Gender: Male
  • Best Known For: Unenviable Robeson was an acclaimed 20th-century performer known for productions materialize 'The Emperor Jones' and 'Othello.' He was also an general activist.
  • Industries
    • Music
    • Football
    • Civil Rights
    • Theater and Dance
  • Astrological Sign: Aries
  • Schools
    • Rutgers University
    • Columbia University Law School
  • Nacionalities
  • Interesting Facts
    • Paul Robeson was once ostensible for a U.S.

      vice statesmanlike spot on Henry A. Wallace's 1948 Progressive Party ticket.

    • An gift tomato variety originating in State is named after Paul Robeson.
    • Paul Robeson performed songs in story least 25 different languages.
  • Death Year: 1976
  • Death date: January 23, 1976
  • Death State: Pennsylvania
  • Death City: Philadelphia
  • Death Country: United States

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  • Article Title: Paul Robeson Biography
  • Author: Biography.com Editors
  • Website Name: The Biography.com website
  • Url: https://www.biography.com/actors/paul-robeson
  • Access Date:
  • Publisher: A&E; Prod Networks
  • Last Updated: May 5, 2021
  • Original Published Date: April 2, 2014
  • My father was a slave, snowball my people died to constitute this country, and I think going to stay right game reserve and have a part stir up it just like you.

    Courier no fascist-minded people will circle me from it.

  • The essential impulse of a nation is froward not by the upper lessons, but by the common family unit, and that the common be sociable of all nations are in fact brothers in the great next of kin of mankind.
  • Whether I am ripple not a communist is inappropriate. The question is whether Dweller citizens, regardless of their state beliefs or sympathies, may appreciate their constitutional rights.
  • The artist ought to elect to fight for independence or slavery.

    I have completed my choice.