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.
Filmography
Once Upon a Time in Harlem
as Self (archival footage)
Once Upon a Time in Harlem
as Self (archival footage)
The Young Don't Cry
as Doosy
The Young Don't Cry
as Doosy
The Shrike
as Mr. Carlisle
The Shrike
as Mr. Carlisle
Untamed Fury
as Uncle Gabe
Untamed Fury
as Uncle Gabe
Undercurrent
as George
Undercurrent
as George
Young Widow
as Nate (uncredited)
Young Widow
as Nate (uncredited)
Young Widow
as Nate (uncredited)
Young Widow
as Nate (uncredited)
The Negro Sailor
as Editor
The Negro Sailor
as Editor
The Hidden Eye
as Alistair
The Hidden Eye
as Alistair
Dark Waters
as Office Custodian (uncredited)
Dark Waters
as Office Custodian (uncredited)
Happy Land
as Old Ben (uncredited)
Happy Land
as Old Ben (uncredited)
Mission to Moscow
as Haile Selassie (uncredited)
Mission to Moscow
as Haile Selassie (uncredited)
The Ox-Bow Incident
as Sparks (uncredited)
The Ox-Bow Incident
as Sparks (uncredited)
White Cargo
as Jim Fish
White Cargo
as Jim Fish
Heart of the Golden West
as Rango
Heart of the Golden West
as Rango
The Vanishing Virginian
as Uncle Josh
The Vanishing Virginian
as Uncle Josh
Bahama Passage
as Morales
Bahama Passage
as Morales
King of the Zombies
as Momba
King of the Zombies
as Momba
Road to Zanzibar
as Scarface
Road to Zanzibar
as Scarface
Virginia
as Ezechial
Virginia
as Ezechial
Robin Hood of the Pecos
as Kezeye
Robin Hood of the Pecos
as Kezeye
Of Mice and Men
as Crooks
Of Mice and Men
as Crooks
The Symbol of the Unconquered: A Story of the Ku Klux Klan
as Tugi - an Indian Fakir
The Symbol of the Unconquered: A Story of the Ku Klux Klan
as Tugi - an Indian Fakir
Within Our Gates
Within Our Gates