Leigh Whipper
Biography
Leigh Whipper was an American stage and film actor. Born in Charleston, he studied at Howard University Law School but departed in 1895 and never worked as a lawyer. He had no dramatic training when he began acting in 1899 with a Philadelphia stock company's Uncle Tom's Cabin. His Broadway debut came with the Georgia Minstrels, and he entered movies in 1920 in the silent film The Symbol of the Unconquered. Whipper was the first African American admitted to the Actors' Equity Association and was among the founders of the Negro Actors Guild of America. He first played Crooks in the Broadway staging of Of Mice and Men and repeated the part in the 1939 film. During World War II he was on the steering committee for the Hollywood Victory Committee's Negro Division. He died in 1975.
98years old at death
- Born Charleston
- Died New York City
- Star sign: ScorpioThe sign runs October 23 to November 21
- Also credited as Leigh Rollin Whipper
Movie Career
- Films
- 6
- Career span
- 27 years1920 to 1947
Genres
First and latest
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A first
Whipper became the first African American member of the Actors' Equity Association, and he helped establish the Negro Actors Guild of America.
First role
Whipper originated the part of Crooks in the original Broadway staging of Of Mice and Men, and he played that same role again in the 1939 film adaptation.
A change of course
Whipper attended Howard University Law School, but he departed in 1895 and did not go on to work as a lawyer.
Leigh Whipper movies on Netflix
Best known for
The films on Netflix they are best known for, with the part played in each.
Worked with
Leigh Whipper made one film with each of them. Pick a number on the chart or a name in the list to see the films they share.
Films together
Robert Mitchum's page
Lon Chaney Jr.'s page
Burgess Meredith's page
Katharine Hepburn's page
Bing Crosby's page
Douglass Dumbrille's page
Lewis MilestoneDirector, 1 film, 1939
All films by Lewis Milestone
Oscar MicheauxDirector, 1 film, 1920
All films by Oscar Micheaux
All films by Vincente Minnelli
Online
Official profiles and reference pages.