Paul Robeson

Paul LeRoy Bustill Robeson (April 9, 1898 – January 23, 1976) was an American actor, athlete, singer, writer, and political and civil rights activist.

Actor and singer

Robeson found fame as an actor and singer with his fine bass voice. In addition to his stage performances, his renditions of old Negro spirituals were acclaimed. His first roles were in 1922 playing Simon in Simon the Cyrenian at the Harlem YMCA and Jim in Taboo at the Sam Harris Theater in Harlem. Taboo was later re-named Vodoo. He was acclaimed in his 1924 performances in Eugene O'Neill's The Emperor Jones where he originated the title role on the stage. Next he played Crown in DuBose Heyward's Porgy and Bess and, in 1930, he played Othello in England, when no US company would employ him for the role. He reprised the role in New York in 1943-1945. At the time the Broadway run of Othello was the longest Broadway run of any Shakespeare play. He won the Spingarn Medal in 1945 for his performance. Uta Hagen played Desdemona, and José Ferrer played Iago. Robeson's repertoire of African-American folk songs helped bring these to much wider attention both inside the US and abroad — in particular his stunning rendition of "Go Down Moses".

Related Topics:
Bass - Spirituals - Eugene O'Neill - The Emperor Jones - DuBose Heyward - Porgy and Bess - Othello - England - Shakespeare - Spingarn Medal - Uta Hagen - José Ferrer - African-American - Go Down Moses

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