Leigh Whipper

Biography

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.

Movies & TV Shows

1. The Ox-Bow Incident (1943) — Sparks (uncredited)
2. Within Our Gates (1920)
3. Of Mice and Men (1939) — Crooks
4. King of the Zombies (1941) — Momba
5. Undercurrent (1946) — George
6. Road to Zanzibar (1941) — Scarface
7. Dark Waters (1944) — Office Custodian (uncredited)
8. Mission to Moscow (1943) — Haile Selassie (uncredited)
9. The Symbol of the Unconquered (1920) — Tugi - an Indian Fakir
10. Young Widow (1946) — Nate (Uncredited)
11. White Cargo (1942) — Jim Fish
12. The Hidden Eye (1945) — Alistair
13. The Young Don't Cry (1957) — Doosy
14. Heart of the Golden West (1942) — Rango
15. Happy Land (1943) — Old Ben (uncredited)
16. The Vanishing Virginian (1942) — Uncle Josh
17. Bahama Passage (1941) — Morales
18. The Shrike (1955) — Mr. Carlisle
19. Robin Hood of the Pecos (1941) — Kezeye
20. Untamed Fury (1947) — Uncle Gabe
21. Virginia (1941) — Ezechial
22. The Negro Sailor (1945) — Editor
23. Once Upon a Time in Harlem (2026) — Self (archival footage)