Earl Cameron
Biography
Earl Cameron was a Bermudian actor who spent much of his career in Britain after beginning on the London stage. Born in Pembroke, Bermuda, he moved from West End theater into film and became one of British cinema's earliest black stars. His breakthrough came with Pool of London (1951), and he earned critical acclaim for that leading part. He later appeared in Sapphire (1959), Guns at Batasi (1964), Thunderball (1965) as Bond's Bahamian assistant Pinder, Battle Beneath the Earth (1967), A Warm December (1973), The Message (1976), and The Interpreter (2005), playing dictator Edmond Zuwanie to much praise. His television work included The Prisoner, The Andromeda Breakthrough, and Doctor Who, where he was reportedly among the earliest black actors to portray an astronaut on television. He was appointed CBE in 2009, and his film appearances continued until 2013. He died in 2020.
102years old at death
- Born Pembroke Parish
- Died Kenilworth
- Star sign: LeoThe sign runs July 23 to August 22
- Also credited as Earlston Jewitt Cameron and Earlston Jewett Cameron
Movie Career
- Films
- 11
- Career span
- 54 years1951 to 2005
Genres
First and latest
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First role
In 1941, Cameron was tired of menial work and asked his friend Harry Crossman for a part in the West End revival of Chu Chin Chow. Weeks later, after an actor missed a performance, Crossman set up a meeting with director Robert Atkins, who hired Cameron immediately.
A role that slipped away
Terence Young, the director, and co-producer Albert R. Broccoli thought of Cameron for Quarrel in Dr. No (1962), but producer Harry Saltzman judged him wrong for the part and gave it to John Kitzmiller.
A first
Cameron's role in the 1951 film Pool of London made him one of the first black actors to star in a British movie, following Paul Robeson, Nina Mae McKinney and Elisabeth Welch in the 1930s.
A first
In September 2016, Cameron became the Screen Nation "Hall of Frame" first inductee at the BFI Southbank, where Samira Ahmed interviewed him.
Beyond film
Cameron was cast in a BBC Radio 4 adaptation of Neil Gaiman's novel Anansi Boys in 2017, a month after turning 100. Lenny Henry starred in the production.
Earl Cameron movies on Netflix
Best known for
The films on Netflix they are best known for, with the part played in each.
Most often with
Basil Dearden directed two of these films. Five actors appear in two of them each. Pick a number on the chart or a name in the list to see the films they share.
Films together
Sidney Poitier's page
Desmond Llewelyn's page
Martin Benson's page
Johnny Sekka's page
Bill Nagy's page
Basil DeardenDirector, 2 films, 1951 to 1959
All films by Basil Dearden
Awards
One award and honor.
| Year | Award | Film | Result |
|---|---|---|---|
| Other honors | |||
| Commander of the Order of the British Empire | Won | ||
Online
Official profiles and reference pages.