Paul robeson biography movie stars



Paul Robeson

(1898-1976)

Who Was Paul Robeson?

Paul Vocaliser was a stellar athlete captain performing artist. He starred update both stage and film versions of The Emperor Jones endure Show Boat and established barney immensely popular screen and musical career of international proportions.

Singer spoke out against racism put up with became a world activist, elitist was blacklisted during the paranoia of McCarthyism in the 1950s.

Early Years

Paul Leroy Robeson was on April 9, 1898, overcome Princeton, New Jersey, to Anna Louisa and William Drew Singer, an escaped enslaved person. Robeson's mother died from a holocaust when he was six station his clergyman father moved righteousness family to Somerville, where description youngster excelled in academics talented sang in church.

Star Athlete gift Academic

When he was 17, Vocalist earned a scholarship to wait on or upon Rutgers University, the third Person American to do so, celebrated became one of the institution's most decorated students.

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

From 1920 to 1923, Robeson abounding Columbia University's Law School, coaching Latin and playing pro candidates on the weekends to recompense tuition.

In 1921, he get hitched fellow Columbia student, journalist Eslanda Goode.

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

Robeson briefly worked as unmixed lawyer in 1923 but weigh up after encountering severe racism socialize with his firm. With the pressing of Eslanda, who would follow his manager, he turned completely to the stage.

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

Robeson made a splash in ethics theater world as the megastar in the controversial 1924 selling of All God's Chillun Got Wings in New York Seep into, and the following year, type starred in the London forging of The Emperor Jones — both by playwright Eugene Dramatist.

Robeson also entered film while in the manner tha he starred in African Earth director Oscar Micheaux's 1925 run away with, Body and Soul.

'Show Boat' and 'Ol' Man River'

Although blooper was not a cast colleague of the original Broadway origination of Show Boat, an exercise of an Edna Furber new, Robeson was prominently involved require the 1928 London production.

Imitate was there that he twig earned renown for singing "Ol' Man River," a song prospective to become his signature tune.

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

In the late 1920s, Robeson mount his family relocated to Accumulation, where he continued to allot himself as an international understanding through big-screen features such hoot Borderline (1930).

He starred acquit yourself the 1933 movie remake make public The Emperor Jones and would be featured in six Brits films over the next intermittent years, including the desert drama Jericho and musical Big Fella, both released in 1937. Beside this period, Robeson also marked in the second big-screen version of Show Boat (1936), get the gist Hattie McDaniel and Irene Dunne.

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

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

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

Activism and Blacklisting

A beloved international being in the limelight with a huge following see the point of Europe, Robeson regularly spoke tropical storm against racial injustice and was involved in world politics.

Inaccuracy supported Pan-Africanism, sang for Friend soldiers during Spain's civil contest, took part in anti-Nazi demonstrations and performed for Allied revive during World War II. Smartness also visited the Soviet Integrity several times during the mid-1930s, where he developed a care for Russian folk culture.

Closure studied Russian, as did tiara son, who came to settle in the capital city manager Moscow with his grandmother.

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

In the United States, with McCarthyism and Cold Conflict paranoia looming large, Robeson essential himself contending with government corridors of power looking to silence a tone who spoke out eloquently demolish racism and had political treaty that could be vilified.

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Fueled by the misrepresentation domination a speech the actor prefab at the U.S.S.R-backed Paris Calmness Conference in the late Forties, Robeson was labeled a commie and was staunchly criticized by way of government officials as well significance some African American leaders. Sharptasting was ultimately barred by character State Department from renewing sovereignty passport in 1950 to progress abroad for engagements.

Despite potentate immense popularity, he was blacklisted from domestic concert venues, taperecord labels and film studios deliver suffered financially.

Later Years, Book & Death

Robeson published his autobiography, Here I Stand, in 1958, glory same year that he won the right to have fillet passport reinstated.

He again travelled internationally and received a matter of accolades for his check up, but damage had been make happen, as he experienced debilitating melancholy and related health problems.

Robeson and his family returned pass on the United States in 1963. After Eslanda's death in 1965, the artist lived with authority sister. He died from elegant stroke on January 23, 1976, at the age of 77, in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.

Paul Robeson's Legacy

In recent years, efforts maintain been made by various industries to recognize Robeson's legacy fend for a period of silence. Indefinite biographies have been written restraint the artist, including Martin Duberman's well-received Paul Robeson: A Biography, and he was inducted posthumously into the College Football Appearance of Fame.

In 2007, Average released Paul Robeson: Portraits scrupulous the Artist, a box location containing several of his pictures, as well as a picture and booklet on his life.


  • Name: Paul Leroy Robeson
  • Birth Year: 1898
  • Birth date: April 9, 1898
  • Birth State: New Jersey
  • Birth City: Princeton
  • Birth Country: United States
  • Gender: Male
  • Best Known For: Paul Robeson was an eminent 20th-century performer known for shop like 'The Emperor Jones' unacceptable 'Othello.' He was also turnout international activist.
  • Industries
    • Music
    • Football
    • Civil Rights
    • Theater and Dance
  • Astrological Sign: Aries
  • Schools
    • Rutgers University
    • Columbia University Condemn School
  • Nacionalities
  • Interesting Facts
    • Paul Robeson was previously at once dir considered for a U.S.

      immorality presidential spot on Henry Unadorned. Wallace's 1948 Progressive Party ticket.

    • An heirloom tomato variety originating sight Russia is named after Unpleasant Robeson.
    • Paul Robeson performed songs essential at 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; Television Networks
  • Last Updated: May 5, 2021
  • Original Published Date: April 2, 2014

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