fbpx
Wikipedia

William Marshall (actor)

May 02, 2024

For the actor born in 1917, see William Marshall (bandleader).

William Horace Marshall (August 19, 1924 – June 11, 2003) was an American actor, director and opera singer. He played the title role in the 1972 blaxploitation classic Blacula and its sequel Scream Blacula Scream (1973), and appeared as the King of Cartoons on the 1980s television show Pee-wee's Playhouse and as Dr. Richard Daystrom on the Star Trek television series. He was 6‘5” (1.96 m) tall and was known for his bass voice.[1]

William Marshall
Marshall in 1951
Born
William Horace Marshall

(1924-08-19)August 19, 1924
Gary, Indiana, U.S.
DiedJune 11, 2003(2003-06-11) (aged 78)
Los Angeles, California, U.S.
OccupationActor
Years active1944–1996
Children4
AwardsEmmy Award (1974)

Biography edit

Early life edit

 
William Marshall as De Lawd in The Green Pastures (1951)

Marshall was born in Gary, Indiana,[2] to Vereen Marshall, a dentist, and Thelma (née Edwards).[3]

He attended New York University as an art student but transferred to the Actors Studio to study theater. He studied at the American Theatre Wing and with Sanford Meisner at the Neighborhood Playhouse.[4]

Career edit

Marshall made his Broadway debut in 1944 in Carmen Jones. In 1950, he understudied Boris Karloff as Captain Hook in the Broadway production of Peter Pan. He played the leading role of De Lawd in the 1951 revival of The Green Pastures, a role he repeated in 1958 in a BBC telecast of the play.[3][5] He performed in several Shakespearean plays on the stage in the U. S. and Europe, including the title role in at least six productions of Othello. Harold Hobson of the London Sunday Times praised Marshall’s portrayal as "the best Othello of our time."[6]

In 1968, Marshall joined the Center Theatre Group at the Ahmanson Theatre in Los Angeles to play Othello in a jazz musical version, Catch My Soul, with Jerry Lee Lewis as Iago.[7]

Marshall portrayed Paul Robeson and Frederick Douglass on stage. He researched Douglass's life extensively, and in 1983 produced and played the lead role in Frederick Douglass: Slave and Statesman.[8]

Film and television career edit

Marshall's career on screen began in the 1952 film Lydia Bailey as a Haitian leader. He followed that with a prominent role as Glycon, comrade and fellow gladiator to Victor Mature in the 1954 film Demetrius and the Gladiators. His demeanor, voice and stature gave him a wide range, though he was ill-suited for the subservient roles that many black actors of his generation were most frequently offered. He was a leader of the Mau-Mau uprising in Something of Value (1957), and Attorney General Edward Brooke in The Boston Strangler (1968). He was arguably most known for his role in the vampire film Blacula and its sequel Scream Blacula Scream.

In the early 1950s, Marshall starred briefly in Harlem Detective, a series about black police officers. The show was canceled when Marshall was named as a communist in the anti-communist newsletter Counterattack.[9]

Despite blacklisting because of his supposed communist connections, Marshall continued to appear in both television and films. He appeared on the British spy series Danger Man in episodes titled "Deadline" (1962) and "The Galloping Major" (1964). Marshall played the role of traveling opera singer Thomas Bowers in the 1964 Bonanza episode "Enter Thomas Bowers," and that same year he appeared, with actor Ivan Dixon, as the leader of a newly independent African nation and as a T.H.R.U.S.H. agent in the first-season episode of The Man from U.N.C.L.E. entitled "The Vulcan Affair", also on the 1964 Rawhide episode "Incident at Seven Fingers" where he played a Buffalo Soldier. In 1968, he appeared as Dr. Richard Daystrom in the Star Trek episode "The Ultimate Computer".[10] In 1969, he had a special guest appearance as the character Amalek in an episode of The Wild Wild West entitled "The Night of the Egyptian Queen". He reprised his Othello persona in 1979 on Steve Allen's "Meeting of the Minds".

He won two local Emmys for producing and performing in a PBS production, As Adam Early in the Morning, a theatre piece originally performed on stage.[1] He also was featured in an episode of The Alfred Hitchcock Hour titled, "The Jar", with actors Pat Buttram and George Lindsey.

Marshall played the King of Cartoons on Pee-wee's Playhouse, replacing actor Gilbert Lewis, during the 1980s.

In 1985, guest starred on Benson as Mr. Reaper (death) season 7, episode 4 "The Stranger".

Later life and death edit

In addition to acting and producing, Marshall taught acting at various universities including the University of California, Irvine, and the Mafundi Institute, an African-American arts and music institution in the Watts section of Los Angeles. He did similar work at Chicago's ETA Creative Arts Foundation, which in 1992 named Marshall one of its Epic Men of the 20th century.[1]

For 42 years, Marshall was the partner of Sylvia Gussin Jarrico, former wife of blacklisted screenwriter Paul Jarrico. Marshall died on June 11, 2003, from complications arising from Alzheimer's disease and diabetes. He was survived by sons Tariq, Malcolm, and Claude Marshall and daughter Gina Loring. Eulogists at his funeral included Sidney Poitier, Ivan Dixon, Paul Winfield, and Marla Gibbs.[11]

Awards edit

In 1974, Marshall won two local Emmys for producing and performing in a PBS production, As Adam Early in the Morning, a theatre piece originally performed on stage. [12]

Filmography edit

References edit

  1. ^ a b c "N/A". Long Beach Press-Telegram. May 26, 1952. p. 27.
  2. ^ Sebastian, Simone M. (June 22, 2003). "William Marshall, 78, Stage, screen actor starred in 'Blacula'". Chicago Tribune.
  3. ^ a b "William Marshall Biography (1924–2003)". filmreference.com. July 1, 2015.
  4. ^ . CNN. Associated Press. June 17, 2003. Archived from the original on June 20, 2003.
  5. ^ "William Marshall Biography (1924–2003)". Internet Broadway Database. July 1, 2015.
  6. ^ . Jet Magazine. June 30, 2003. Archived from the original on September 24, 2015. Retrieved July 1, 2015.
  7. ^ Christgau, Robert (June 2000). Any Old Way You Choose It: Rock and Other Pop Music, 1967–1973. Cooper Square Press. ISBN 978-0-8154-1041-6.
  8. ^ "1983 Peabody Awards entry form". Hargrett Library, University of Georgia. 1983.
  9. ^ Caute, David (May 1, 1979). The Great Fear: The Anti-Communist Purge Under Truman and Eisenhower. Touchstone. ISBN 978-0-671-24848-2.
  10. ^ Kaye, Don (September 16, 2016). "The 17 best Star Trek: The Original Series guest stars (hero or villain)". SYFY WIRE. Retrieved June 26, 2019.
  11. ^ "N/A". EXo News. July 9, 2003.
  12. ^ "William Marshall to appear in 'As Adam Early in the Morning'" (PDF). library.ucsd.edu. May 24, 1974.

External links edit

 
Wikimedia Commons has media related to William Marshall (actor).
Preceded by Voice of Iron Man
1981 		Succeeded by

May 02, 2024
william, marshall, actor, actor, born, 1917, william, marshall, bandleader, william, horace, marshall, august, 1924, june, 2003, american, actor, director, opera, singer, played, title, role, 1972, blaxploitation, classic, blacula, sequel, scream, blacula, scr. For the actor born in 1917 see William Marshall bandleader William Horace Marshall August 19 1924 June 11 2003 was an American actor director and opera singer He played the title role in the 1972 blaxploitation classic Blacula and its sequel Scream Blacula Scream 1973 and appeared as the King of Cartoons on the 1980s television show Pee wee s Playhouse and as Dr Richard Daystrom on the Star Trek television series He was 6 5 1 96 m tall and was known for his bass voice 1 William MarshallMarshall in 1951BornWilliam Horace Marshall 1924 08 19 August 19 1924Gary Indiana U S DiedJune 11 2003 2003 06 11 aged 78 Los Angeles California U S OccupationActorYears active1944 1996Children4AwardsEmmy Award 1974 Contents 1 Biography 1 1 Early life 1 2 Career 1 3 Film and television career 1 4 Later life and death 1 5 Awards 1 6 Filmography 2 References 3 External linksBiography editEarly life edit nbsp William Marshall as De Lawd in The Green Pastures 1951 Marshall was born in Gary Indiana 2 to Vereen Marshall a dentist and Thelma nee Edwards 3 He attended New York University as an art student but transferred to the Actors Studio to study theater He studied at the American Theatre Wing and with Sanford Meisner at the Neighborhood Playhouse 4 Career edit Marshall made his Broadway debut in 1944 in Carmen Jones In 1950 he understudied Boris Karloff as Captain Hook in the Broadway production of Peter Pan He played the leading role of De Lawd in the 1951 revival of The Green Pastures a role he repeated in 1958 in a BBC telecast of the play 3 5 He performed in several Shakespearean plays on the stage in the U S and Europe including the title role in at least six productions of Othello Harold Hobson of the London Sunday Times praised Marshall s portrayal as the best Othello of our time 6 In 1968 Marshall joined the Center Theatre Group at the Ahmanson Theatre in Los Angeles to play Othello in a jazz musical version Catch My Soul with Jerry Lee Lewis as Iago 7 Marshall portrayed Paul Robeson and Frederick Douglass on stage He researched Douglass s life extensively and in 1983 produced and played the lead role in Frederick Douglass Slave and Statesman 8 Film and television career edit Marshall s career on screen began in the 1952 film Lydia Bailey as a Haitian leader He followed that with a prominent role as Glycon comrade and fellow gladiator to Victor Mature in the 1954 film Demetrius and the Gladiators His demeanor voice and stature gave him a wide range though he was ill suited for the subservient roles that many black actors of his generation were most frequently offered He was a leader of the Mau Mau uprising in Something of Value 1957 and Attorney General Edward Brooke in The Boston Strangler 1968 He was arguably most known for his role in the vampire film Blacula and its sequel Scream Blacula Scream In the early 1950s Marshall starred briefly in Harlem Detective a series about black police officers The show was canceled when Marshall was named as a communist in the anti communist newsletter Counterattack 9 Despite blacklisting because of his supposed communist connections Marshall continued to appear in both television and films He appeared on the British spy series Danger Man in episodes titled Deadline 1962 and The Galloping Major 1964 Marshall played the role of traveling opera singer Thomas Bowers in the 1964 Bonanza episode Enter Thomas Bowers and that same year he appeared with actor Ivan Dixon as the leader of a newly independent African nation and as a T H R U S H agent in the first season episode of The Man from U N C L E entitled The Vulcan Affair also on the 1964 Rawhide episode Incident at Seven Fingers where he played a Buffalo Soldier In 1968 he appeared as Dr Richard Daystrom in the Star Trek episode The Ultimate Computer 10 In 1969 he had a special guest appearance as the character Amalek in an episode of The Wild Wild West entitled The Night of the Egyptian Queen He reprised his Othello persona in 1979 on Steve Allen s Meeting of the Minds He won two local Emmys for producing and performing in a PBS production As Adam Early in the Morning a theatre piece originally performed on stage 1 He also was featured in an episode of The Alfred Hitchcock Hour titled The Jar with actors Pat Buttram and George Lindsey Marshall played the King of Cartoons on Pee wee s Playhouse replacing actor Gilbert Lewis during the 1980s In 1985 guest starred on Benson as Mr Reaper death season 7 episode 4 The Stranger Later life and death edit In addition to acting and producing Marshall taught acting at various universities including the University of California Irvine and the Mafundi Institute an African American arts and music institution in the Watts section of Los Angeles He did similar work at Chicago s ETA Creative Arts Foundation which in 1992 named Marshall one of its Epic Men of the 20th century 1 For 42 years Marshall was the partner of Sylvia Gussin Jarrico former wife of blacklisted screenwriter Paul Jarrico Marshall died on June 11 2003 from complications arising from Alzheimer s disease and diabetes He was survived by sons Tariq Malcolm and Claude Marshall and daughter Gina Loring Eulogists at his funeral included Sidney Poitier Ivan Dixon Paul Winfield and Marla Gibbs 11 Awards edit In 1974 Marshall won two local Emmys for producing and performing in a PBS production As Adam Early in the Morning a theatre piece originally performed on stage 12 Filmography edit Lydia Bailey 1952 King Dick Demetrius and the Gladiators 1954 Glycon Something of Value 1957 Leader Intellectual in Suit Sabu and the Magic Ring 1957 Ubal the genie La fille de feu 1958 Stork The Big Pride 1961 Sutlej Piedra de toque 1963 African Missionary uncredited The Alfred Hitchcock Hour 1964 Season 2 Episode 17 The Jar Jahdoo To Trap a Spy 1964 Sekue Ashumen The Hell with Heroes 1968 Al Poland The Boston Strangler 1968 Atty Gen Edward W Brooke Skullduggery 1970 Attorney General The Mask of Sheba 1970 Captain Condor Sekallie Zig Zag 1970 Morris Bronson Honky 1971 Dr Craig Smith Blacula 1972 Blacula Mamuwalde Scream Blacula Scream 1973 Blacula Mamuwalde Abby 1974 Bishop Garnet Williams Twilight s Last Gleaming 1977 William Klinger Attorney General The Great Skycopter Rescue 1980 Mr Jason The Tragedy of Othello 1981 Othello Vasectomy A Delicate Matter 1986 Dr Dean Amazon Women on the Moon 1987 Pirate Captain segment Video Pirates Maverick 1994 Riverboat Poker Player 10 Sorceress 1995 John Geiger Dinosaur Valley Girls 1996 Dr Benjamin MichaelsReferences edit a b c N A Long Beach Press Telegram May 26 1952 p 27 Sebastian Simone M June 22 2003 William Marshall 78 Stage screen actor starred in Blacula Chicago Tribune a b William Marshall Biography 1924 2003 filmreference com July 1 2015 William Marshall Biography 1924 2003 CNN Associated Press June 17 2003 Archived from the original on June 20 2003 William Marshall Biography 1924 2003 Internet Broadway Database July 1 2015 William Marshall Blacula actor succumbs at 78 Jet Magazine June 30 2003 Archived from the original on September 24 2015 Retrieved July 1 2015 Christgau Robert June 2000 Any Old Way You Choose It Rock and Other Pop Music 1967 1973 Cooper Square Press ISBN 978 0 8154 1041 6 1983 Peabody Awards entry form Hargrett Library University of Georgia 1983 Caute David May 1 1979 The Great Fear The Anti Communist Purge Under Truman and Eisenhower Touchstone ISBN 978 0 671 24848 2 Kaye Don September 16 2016 The 17 best Star Trek The Original Series guest stars hero or villain SYFY WIRE Retrieved June 26 2019 N A EXo News July 9 2003 William Marshall to appear in As Adam Early in the Morning PDF library ucsd edu May 24 1974 External links edit nbsp Wikimedia Commons has media related to William Marshall actor William Marshall at IMDb William Marshall at the Internet Broadway Database nbsp William Marshall at the Internet Off Broadway Database In Loving Memory Of William Marshall William Marshall at Memory Alpha The Associated Press June 16 2003 Blacula Actor Dead At 78 CBS News Retrieved September 17 2007 Preceded byJohn Vernon Voice of Iron Man1981 Succeeded byRobert Hays Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title William Marshall actor amp oldid 1219145213, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,

article

, read, download, free, free download, mp3, video, mp4, 3gp, jpg, jpeg, gif, png, picture, music, song, movie, book, game, games.