1898-1976. US bass singer and actor. He
graduated from Columbia University as a
lawyer, but limited opportunities for blacks
led him instead to the stage. He appeared in
The Emperor Jones 1924 and Showboat 1928, in
which he sang `Ol' Man River'. He played
Othello in 1930, and his films include
Sanders of the River 1935 and King Solomon's
Mines 1937. An ardent advocate of black
rights, he had his passport withdrawn 1950-58
because of his association with left-wing
movements. He then left the USA to live in
England.