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Brock Peters

March 20, 2023

Brock Peters (born George Fisher; July 2, 1927 – August 23, 2005)[1] was an American actor and singer, best known for playing the villainous "Crown" in the 1959 film version of Porgy and Bess, and the wrongfully convicted Tom Robinson in the 1962 film To Kill a Mockingbird. Notable film roles include Carmen Jones (1954), The Pawnbroker (1964), Soylent Green (1973) and Ghosts of Mississippi (1996). He received the Screen Actors Guild Life Achievement Award in 1991 and a star on Hollywood Walk of Fame in 1992.

Brock Peters
Peters in 1961
Born
George Fisher

(1927-07-02)July 2, 1927
Harlem, New York City, New York, U.S.
DiedAugust 23, 2005(2005-08-23) (aged 78)
Los Angeles, California, U.S.
Other namesBrock G. Peters
Education
Occupation(s)Actor, voice actor, singer
Years active1949–2005
Spouse
Dolores Daniels
​
​
(m. 1961; died 1989)​
Children1
Gregory Peck and Peters in To Kill a Mockingbird (1962)

He made his Broadway debut in the 1965 Norman Rosten play Mister Johnson. He was nominated for a Tony Award and won a Drama Desk Award and an Outer Critics Circle Award for his lead role as Rev. Stephen Kumalo in the 1972 Broadway revival of the musical Lost in the Stars.

In the 1980s and 1990s, he voiced the role of Darth Vader in the serial radio drama adaptations of the original trilogy of Star Wars films, and played two recurring roles in the Star Trek franchise: Starfleet Admiral Cartwright in two of the original-cast feature films, and Joseph Sisko (father of station commander Benjamin Sisko) in Star Trek: Deep Space Nine.

Early life

Peters was born George Fisher in New York City, the son of Alma A. (née Norford) and Sonnie Fisher, a Senegalese[citation needed] sailor with the French Navy.[1][2] Peters set his sights on a show business career early on, at the age of 10. Avidly encouraged by his mother Alma to pursue a musical career, he studied the violin from 10 to 14 years of age, but he found out that his singing talents were more prodigious and upon enrolling at New York's famed High School of Music & Art, he immediately signed up for several productions in its musical theatre program. Upon graduation, Peters initially fielded more odd jobs than acting jobs, often working as a hospital orderly at night while he worked his way through physical education studies at the City College of New York (CCNY), but he still stayed connected to the burgeoning theatre and creative community in New York, occasionally doing background parts in musical plays like "Black Aida".

Career

After auditioning and landing a spot touring with the Leonard DePaur Infantry Chorus (of which he was a civilian member from 1945 to 1947), however, he officially quit CCNY. Peters often joked that he "grew up" in the chorus, because his vocal range changed from baritone to bass baritone during his years with them. DePaur subsequently gave him the lead in the Chorus' popular rendition of "John Henry" (which became a repertoire mainstay of Peters in later years, singing the work on one of his two solo albums which was produced by United Artists Records in the 1960s).

At the suggestion of his agent, he adopted a more memorable stage name, reversing the order of the names of childhood friend Peter Brock.

After auditioning and landing a stage role in the touring company of Porgy and Bess in 1949 on contralto Etta Moten's suggestion, he went on tour with the opera, where William Warfield commended his performances and requested that Peters be his understudy as Porgy. It was during this time while he was touring in Europe with the opera that Paul Robeson saw him in his career-defining role as "Crown" and purportedly declared that he was "a young Paul Robeson".[citation needed]

 
Peters with Fess Parker in the episode "Pompey" on Daniel Boone (1964)

Peters made his film debut in Carmen Jones in 1954, but began to make a name for himself in such films as To Kill a Mockingbird and The L-Shaped Room. He received a Tony nomination for his starring stint in Broadway's Lost in the Stars.

Peters sang background vocals on the 1956 hit "Day-O" by Harry Belafonte, as well as on Belafonte's 1957 hit, "Mama Look at Bubu". He led the chorus at recording sessions for Belafonte's iconic 1956 album Calypso. He also sang on the song "Where" from Randy Weston's 1959 album Live at the Five Spot and shared vocal duties with Martha Flowers on Weston's album of the following year, Uhuru Afrika. During this time, Peters and Belafonte became close friends, sharing similar political views and approaches to their careers. In 1963, he played Matthew Robinson in Heavens Above!, a British satirical-comedy film starring Peter Sellers, directed by John and Roy Boulting. He played a supporting role as the gangster Rodriguez in the 1964 film, The Pawnbroker, one of the first confirmed homosexual characters in an American film.[3] He played “Jesse” in a 1972 episode of Gunsmoke. He was a special guest star in the third season of The Streets of San Francisco, playing the character "Jacob" in the episode called "Jacob's Boy" (1974).

In the film Abe Lincoln, Freedom Fighter (1978), Peters plays Henry, a freed black slave who is falsely accused of robbery but, defended by Abraham Lincoln, is found not guilty due to the fact he has a damaged hand and could not have committed the crime. In To Kill a Mockingbird, Peters plays Tom Robinson, a black man falsely accused of raping a white girl, a crime Atticus Finch shows he could not have committed because his left hand and arm were damaged. In 1970 Peters portrayed the voice of African-American boxer Jack Johnson in Bill Cayton's film of the same name, and it is in this role that he can be heard at the end of Miles Davis' soundtrack album, Jack Johnson, saying: "I'm Jack Johnson. Heavyweight champion of the world. I'm black. They never let me forget it. I'm black, all right. I'll never let them forget it."

Between 1981 and 1996, Peters lent his bass voice of Darth Vader for the radio adaptations of the first three Star Wars films for National Public Radio.[4] He also played the role of a Colonial prosecutor trying to make a murder case against Starbuck in an episode of the original Battlestar Galactica.

Peters appeared in the films Star Trek IV: The Voyage Home and Star Trek VI: The Undiscovered Country as Fleet Admiral Cartwright of Starfleet Command.[5] Peters portrayed Joseph Sisko, father of Deep Space Nine's commanding officer, Benjamin Sisko, on Star Trek: Deep Space Nine. In 1993, he was a member of the jury at the 43rd Berlin International Film Festival.[6] In early 2005, six months before his death, Peters guest-starred in an episode of JAG during its final season, "Bridging the Gulf", season 10 episode 15. Peters worked with Charlton Heston on several theater productions in the 1940s and 1950s. The two became friends and subsequently worked together on several films, including Major Dundee, Soylent Green, and Two-Minute Warning. He voiced Lucius Fox in several episodes of Batman: The Animated Series and Morris Grant/Soul Power in the animated series Static Shock (2000–2004).

He was involved in many community projects, including being chairman and a co-founder of the Dance Theatre of Harlem.[7][8]

Recognition

Brock was awarded the 26th Screen Actors Guild Life Achievement Award in 1990 for his acting career and humanitarian contributions.[9][10] He was given a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame in the live theater category in 1992.

Personal life and death

Peters was once romantically involved with actress Ja'net Dubois.[11] Peters was married to Dolores 'DiDi' Daniels from 1961 until her death in 1989. Their daughter Lisa Jo Peters was born November 3, 1962. Peters delivered the eulogy at Gregory Peck's funeral in 2003. His character, Tom Robinson, was defended by Peck's Atticus Finch in 1962's To Kill a Mockingbird.[12][13] He died in Los Angeles from complications from pancreatic cancer on August 23, 2005, at the age of 78.[1] Peters is buried in the Revelation section at Hollywood Hills Forest Lawn Cemetery, in Los Angeles, CA.

Filmography

Film

Television

Other notable performances

References

  1. ^ a b c Mel Watkins (August 24, 2005). "Brock Peters of 'To Kill a Mockingbird' Is Dead at 78". The New York Times. Retrieved January 29, 2015. Brock Peters, the versatile film and stage actor, singer and producer who first rose to prominence in the [1960s and 1970s] with his powerful singing voice and poignant screen portrayals of angry, belligerent black men, died yesterday at his home in Los Angeles. He was 78. The cause was complications of pancreatic cancer, his companion, Marilyn Darby, told The Associated Press. ...
  2. ^ "Brock Peters Biography (1927–2005)". Filmreference.com.
  3. ^ Byron, Stuart (August 9, 1967). "Homo Theme 'Breakthrough'". Variety. p. 7.
  4. ^ Robb, Brian J. (2012). A Brief Guide to Star Wars. London: Hachette. ISBN 9781780335834. Retrieved July 21, 2016.
  5. ^ "Brock Peters Biography". StarTrek.com. CBS Studios. Retrieved October 8, 2008.
  6. ^ "Berlinale: 1993 Juries". berlinale.de. Retrieved May 29, 2011.
  7. ^ "Brock Peters". August 24, 2005 – via Los Angeles Times.
  8. ^ "Brock Peters Performer". Los Angeles Philharmonic. Retrieved April 11, 2020.
  9. ^ "Anni SAG Award To Brock Peters". Daily Variety. November 1, 1990. p. 1.
  10. ^ "NOMINEES & RECIPIENTS". Screen Actors Guild Awards. Retrieved November 20, 2021.
  11. ^ JET Magazine – November 12, 1959
  12. ^ Rubin, Joel; Hoffman, Alice (June 17, 2003). "Peck Memorial Honors Beloved Actor and Man". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved June 15, 2015.
  13. ^ McLaughlin, Katie (February 3, 2012). "'Mockingbird' film at 50: Lessons on tolerance, justice, fatherhood hold true". CNN. Retrieved June 15, 2015.
  14. ^ "Brock Peters Is Chosen For Role in 'Pawnbroker'". The New York Times. September 24, 1963. Retrieved January 29, 2015.

External links

 
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Brock Peters.

March 20, 2023
brock, peters, born, george, fisher, july, 1927, august, 2005, american, actor, singer, best, known, playing, villainous, crown, 1959, film, version, porgy, bess, wrongfully, convicted, robinson, 1962, film, kill, mockingbird, notable, film, roles, include, ca. Brock Peters born George Fisher July 2 1927 August 23 2005 1 was an American actor and singer best known for playing the villainous Crown in the 1959 film version of Porgy and Bess and the wrongfully convicted Tom Robinson in the 1962 film To Kill a Mockingbird Notable film roles include Carmen Jones 1954 The Pawnbroker 1964 Soylent Green 1973 and Ghosts of Mississippi 1996 He received the Screen Actors Guild Life Achievement Award in 1991 and a star on Hollywood Walk of Fame in 1992 Brock PetersPeters in 1961BornGeorge Fisher 1927 07 02 July 2 1927Harlem New York City New York U S DiedAugust 23 2005 2005 08 23 aged 78 Los Angeles California U S Other namesBrock G PetersEducationHigh School of Music amp ArtCity College of New YorkOccupation s Actor voice actor singerYears active1949 2005SpouseDolores Daniels m 1961 died 1989 wbr Children1Gregory Peck and Peters in To Kill a Mockingbird 1962 He made his Broadway debut in the 1965 Norman Rosten play Mister Johnson He was nominated for a Tony Award and won a Drama Desk Award and an Outer Critics Circle Award for his lead role as Rev Stephen Kumalo in the 1972 Broadway revival of the musical Lost in the Stars In the 1980s and 1990s he voiced the role of Darth Vader in the serial radio drama adaptations of the original trilogy of Star Wars films and played two recurring roles in the Star Trek franchise Starfleet Admiral Cartwright in two of the original cast feature films and Joseph Sisko father of station commander Benjamin Sisko in Star Trek Deep Space Nine Contents 1 Early life 2 Career 3 Recognition 4 Personal life and death 5 Filmography 5 1 Film 5 2 Television 6 Other notable performances 7 References 8 External linksEarly life EditPeters was born George Fisher in New York City the son of Alma A nee Norford and Sonnie Fisher a Senegalese citation needed sailor with the French Navy 1 2 Peters set his sights on a show business career early on at the age of 10 Avidly encouraged by his mother Alma to pursue a musical career he studied the violin from 10 to 14 years of age but he found out that his singing talents were more prodigious and upon enrolling at New York s famed High School of Music amp Art he immediately signed up for several productions in its musical theatre program Upon graduation Peters initially fielded more odd jobs than acting jobs often working as a hospital orderly at night while he worked his way through physical education studies at the City College of New York CCNY but he still stayed connected to the burgeoning theatre and creative community in New York occasionally doing background parts in musical plays like Black Aida Career EditAfter auditioning and landing a spot touring with the Leonard DePaur Infantry Chorus of which he was a civilian member from 1945 to 1947 however he officially quit CCNY Peters often joked that he grew up in the chorus because his vocal range changed from baritone to bass baritone during his years with them DePaur subsequently gave him the lead in the Chorus popular rendition of John Henry which became a repertoire mainstay of Peters in later years singing the work on one of his two solo albums which was produced by United Artists Records in the 1960s At the suggestion of his agent he adopted a more memorable stage name reversing the order of the names of childhood friend Peter Brock After auditioning and landing a stage role in the touring company of Porgy and Bess in 1949 on contralto Etta Moten s suggestion he went on tour with the opera where William Warfield commended his performances and requested that Peters be his understudy as Porgy It was during this time while he was touring in Europe with the opera that Paul Robeson saw him in his career defining role as Crown and purportedly declared that he was a young Paul Robeson citation needed Peters with Fess Parker in the episode Pompey on Daniel Boone 1964 Peters made his film debut in Carmen Jones in 1954 but began to make a name for himself in such films as To Kill a Mockingbird and The L Shaped Room He received a Tony nomination for his starring stint in Broadway s Lost in the Stars Peters sang background vocals on the 1956 hit Day O by Harry Belafonte as well as on Belafonte s 1957 hit Mama Look at Bubu He led the chorus at recording sessions for Belafonte s iconic 1956 album Calypso He also sang on the song Where from Randy Weston s 1959 album Live at the Five Spot and shared vocal duties with Martha Flowers on Weston s album of the following year Uhuru Afrika During this time Peters and Belafonte became close friends sharing similar political views and approaches to their careers In 1963 he played Matthew Robinson in Heavens Above a British satirical comedy film starring Peter Sellers directed by John and Roy Boulting He played a supporting role as the gangster Rodriguez in the 1964 film The Pawnbroker one of the first confirmed homosexual characters in an American film 3 He played Jesse in a 1972 episode of Gunsmoke He was a special guest star in the third season of The Streets of San Francisco playing the character Jacob in the episode called Jacob s Boy 1974 In the film Abe Lincoln Freedom Fighter 1978 Peters plays Henry a freed black slave who is falsely accused of robbery but defended by Abraham Lincoln is found not guilty due to the fact he has a damaged hand and could not have committed the crime In To Kill a Mockingbird Peters plays Tom Robinson a black man falsely accused of raping a white girl a crime Atticus Finch shows he could not have committed because his left hand and arm were damaged In 1970 Peters portrayed the voice of African American boxer Jack Johnson in Bill Cayton s film of the same name and it is in this role that he can be heard at the end of Miles Davis soundtrack album Jack Johnson saying I m Jack Johnson Heavyweight champion of the world I m black They never let me forget it I m black all right I ll never let them forget it Between 1981 and 1996 Peters lent his bass voice of Darth Vader for the radio adaptations of the first three Star Wars films for National Public Radio 4 He also played the role of a Colonial prosecutor trying to make a murder case against Starbuck in an episode of the original Battlestar Galactica Peters appeared in the films Star Trek IV The Voyage Home and Star Trek VI The Undiscovered Country as Fleet Admiral Cartwright of Starfleet Command 5 Peters portrayed Joseph Sisko father of Deep Space Nine s commanding officer Benjamin Sisko on Star Trek Deep Space Nine In 1993 he was a member of the jury at the 43rd Berlin International Film Festival 6 In early 2005 six months before his death Peters guest starred in an episode of JAG during its final season Bridging the Gulf season 10 episode 15 Peters worked with Charlton Heston on several theater productions in the 1940s and 1950s The two became friends and subsequently worked together on several films including Major Dundee Soylent Green and Two Minute Warning He voiced Lucius Fox in several episodes of Batman The Animated Series and Morris Grant Soul Power in the animated series Static Shock 2000 2004 He was involved in many community projects including being chairman and a co founder of the Dance Theatre of Harlem 7 8 Recognition EditBrock was awarded the 26th Screen Actors Guild Life Achievement Award in 1990 for his acting career and humanitarian contributions 9 10 He was given a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame in the live theater category in 1992 Personal life and death EditPeters was once romantically involved with actress Ja net Dubois 11 Peters was married to Dolores DiDi Daniels from 1961 until her death in 1989 Their daughter Lisa Jo Peters was born November 3 1962 Peters delivered the eulogy at Gregory Peck s funeral in 2003 His character Tom Robinson was defended by Peck s Atticus Finch in 1962 s To Kill a Mockingbird 12 13 He died in Los Angeles from complications from pancreatic cancer on August 23 2005 at the age of 78 1 Peters is buried in the Revelation section at Hollywood Hills Forest Lawn Cemetery in Los Angeles CA Filmography EditFilm Edit Carmen Jones 1954 Sergeant Brown Porgy and Bess 1959 Crown The L Shaped Room 1962 Johnny To Kill a Mockingbird 1962 Tom Robinson Heavens Above 1963 Matthew Robinson The Pawnbroker 1964 Rodriguez 14 Major Dundee 1965 Aesop The Incident 1967 Arnold Robinson PJ 1968 Waterpark Daring Game 1968 Jonah Ace High 1968 Thomas The McMasters 1970 Benjie Black Girl 1972 Earl Soylent Green 1973 Lieutenant Hatcher Slaughter s Big Rip Off 1973 Reynolds Lost in the Stars 1974 Reverend Stephen Kumalo Framed 1975 Sam Perry Two Minute Warning 1976 Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum security chief Paul Abe Lincoln Freedom Fighter 1978 Henry Samson and Delilah 1986 animated short voice Star Trek IV The Voyage Home 1986 Fleet Admiral Cartwright Alligator II The Mutation 1991 Chief Speed Star Trek VI The Undiscovered Country 1991 Fleet Admiral Cartwright The Importance of Being Earnest 1992 Doctor Chasuble Ghosts of Mississippi 1996 Walter Williams Believe 1996 Short Two Weeks from Sunday 1997 Short Park Day 1998 Heseeit Turner The Last Place on Earth 2002 Jack Field No Prom for Cindy 2002 Short Doctor The Wild Thornberrys Movie 2002 Jomo voice Television Edit The Loner episode The Homecoming of Lemuel Stove 1956 Ex Union soldier Lemuel Stove The Snows of Kilimanjaro 1960 Gunsmoke 1969 Cato Daniel Boone 1964 Pompey Mission Impossible 1967 The Money Machine Walter Dubruis Mannix 1970 Sonny Carter Welcome Home Johnny Bristol 1972 Berdahl Gunsmoke 1973 Jesse Dillard Pomroy s People 1973 Rev Pomroy Rawhide 1965 Phinn Harper SST Death Flight 1977 Dr Therman Seventh Avenue 1977 Sergeant Rollins The Million Dollar Dixie Deliverance 1978 Zechariah The Incredible Journey of Doctor Meg Laurel 1979 Joe A Bond of Iron 1979 Battle Star Galactica Murder on the Rising Star 1979 Chief Opposer Solon The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn 1981 Jim A House Divided Denmark Vessey s Rebellion 1982 A Caribbean Mystery 1983 Dr Graham The Young and the Restless 1982 1985 Detective Frank Lewis Faerie Tale Theatre 1985 The Ogre Galtar and the Golden Lance 1985 1986 Tormack voice Murder She Wrote Episode titled Trial by error 1986 Mr Bently Juror Broken Angel 1988 Sgt Mercurio To Heal a Nation 1988 Paul Turner Polly 1989 Mr Pendergast Gravedale High 1990 Boneyard voice The Great Los Angeles Earthquake 1990 David Motubu The Pirates of Dark Water 1991 1993 Bloth voice Highway Heartbreaker 1992 Bert Quinn The Secret 1992 Thurgood Uncle T Carver III You Must Remember This 1992 Gus Batman The Animated Series 1992 1994 Lucius Fox voice SWAT Kats The Radical Squadron 1993 1994 Dark Kat voice Cosmic Slop 1994 Minister Coombs An Element of Truth 1995 Star Trek Deep Space Nine 1995 1998 Joseph Sisko Samurai Jack Jack the Woolies and the Chritchellites 2001 Lazzor voice 10 000 Black Men Named George 2002 Leon Frey The Locket 2002 Henry McCord Static Shock 2003 Morris Grant Soul Power voice Other notable performances EditNat Turner in The Original Confessions of Nat Turner As Made to T R Gray November 1 1831 LP CMS Records 1968 Stephen Kumalo in Kurt Weill and Maxwell Anderson s Lost in the Stars stage revival and 1974 film version nominated for a Tony Award The Reverend Canon Frederick Chasuble DD in an all black film version of Oscar Wilde s The Importance of Being Earnest 1992 Darth Vader in the Star Wars radio series Voice acting performance as the boxer Jack Johnson on the Miles Davis album A Tribute to Jack JohnsonReferences Edit a b c Mel Watkins August 24 2005 Brock Peters of To Kill a Mockingbird Is Dead at 78 The New York Times Retrieved January 29 2015 Brock Peters the versatile film and stage actor singer and producer who first rose to prominence in the 1960s and 1970s with his powerful singing voice and poignant screen portrayals of angry belligerent black men died yesterday at his home in Los Angeles He was 78 The cause was complications of pancreatic cancer his companion Marilyn Darby told The Associated Press Brock Peters Biography 1927 2005 Filmreference com Byron Stuart August 9 1967 Homo Theme Breakthrough Variety p 7 Robb Brian J 2012 A Brief Guide to Star Wars London Hachette ISBN 9781780335834 Retrieved July 21 2016 Brock Peters Biography StarTrek com CBS Studios Retrieved October 8 2008 Berlinale 1993 Juries berlinale de Retrieved May 29 2011 Brock Peters August 24 2005 via Los Angeles Times Brock Peters Performer Los Angeles Philharmonic Retrieved April 11 2020 Anni SAG Award To Brock Peters Daily Variety November 1 1990 p 1 NOMINEES amp RECIPIENTS Screen Actors Guild Awards Retrieved November 20 2021 JET Magazine November 12 1959 Rubin Joel Hoffman Alice June 17 2003 Peck Memorial Honors Beloved Actor and Man Los Angeles Times Retrieved June 15 2015 McLaughlin Katie February 3 2012 Mockingbird film at 50 Lessons on tolerance justice fatherhood hold true CNN Retrieved June 15 2015 Brock Peters Is Chosen For Role in Pawnbroker The New York Times September 24 1963 Retrieved January 29 2015 External links Edit Wikimedia Commons has media related to Brock Peters Brock Peters at IMDb Brock Peters at the TCM Movie Database Brock Peters at AllMovie Brock Peters at the Internet Broadway Database Brock Peters at Memory Alpha a Star Trek wiki Brock Peters at Find a Grave Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Brock Peters amp oldid 1144651817, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,

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