Leigh Whipper
Born
October 29, 1876
Died
July 26, 1975 (98 years old)
Known For
Acting
Place of Birth
Charleston, South Carolina, USA
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.
Known For

The Young Don't Cry
Doosy
1957

The Shrike
Mr. Carlisle
1955

Untamed Fury
Uncle Gabe
1947

Undercurrent
George
1946

Young Widow
Nate (Uncredited)
1946

The Negro Sailor
Editor
1945

The Hidden Eye
Alistair
1945

Happy Land
Old Ben (uncredited)
1943

Mission to Moscow
Haile Selassie (uncredited)
1943

The Ox-Bow Incident
Sparks (uncredited)
1943

White Cargo
Jim Fish
1942

Heart of the Golden West
Rango
1942

The Vanishing Virginian
Uncle Josh
1942

Bahama Passage
Morales
1941

King of the Zombies
Momba
1941

Road to Zanzibar
Scarface
1941

Virginia
Ezechial
1941

Robin Hood of the Pecos
Kezeye
1941

Of Mice and Men
Crooks
1939

The Symbol of the Unconquered
Tugi - an Indian Fakir
1920

Within Our Gates
1920