Brock Peters

Infobox actor
birthdate = birth date|1927|7|2|mf=y
birthplace = New York City, New York, United States
deathdate = death date and age|2005|8|23|1927|7|2|mf=y
deathplace = Los Angeles, California, United States

Brock Peters (July 2, 1927 – August 23, 2005) was an American actor, best known for the role in the 1962 film "To Kill a Mockingbird" of Tom Robinson, the black man unjustly convicted of raping a white girl.

Early life

Peters was born George Fisher in New York City, the son of Alma A. (née Norford) and Sonnie Fisher, a sailor. [ [http://www.filmreference.com/film/48/Brock-Peters.html Brock Peters Biography (1927-) ] ] He was of African and West Indian descent. Peters set his sights on a show business career early on, at age 10. A product of NYC's famed Music and Arts High School, Peters initially fielded more odd jobs than acting jobs as he worked his way up from Harlem poverty. Landing a stage role in "Porgy and Bess" in 1949, he quit physical education studies at City College of New York and went on tour with the opera.

Career

Peters made his film debut in "Carmen Jones" in 1954, but he really began to make a name for himself in such films as "To Kill a Mockingbird" and "The L-Shaped Room". He received a Tony nomination for his starring stint in Broadway's "Lost in the Stars".

He sang background vocals on the 1956 hit, "Banana Boat (Day-O)" by Harry Belafonte as well as Belafonte's 1957 hit, "Mama Look At Bubu."

In the movie "Abe Lincoln, Freedom Fighter" (1978), Peters plays Henry, a freed Negro slave who is falsely accused of robbery but, defended by Abe Lincoln, is found not guilty due to the fact he has a damaged hand and couldn't have committed the crime. In "To Kill A Mockingbird", Peters plays Tom Robinson, a black man falsely accused of raping a white girl, whom Atticus Finch shows could not have committed due to the fact his hand (and arm) were damaged.

In radio, Peters was the voice of Darth Vader for the National Public Radio adaptation of the original "Star Wars" trilogy.

He also worked in and as Fleet Admiral Cartwright of Starfleet Command. [cite web |url=http://www.startrek.com/startrek/view/series/DS9/cast/11830.html |title=Brock Peters Biography |accessdate=2008-10-08 |work=StarTrek.com |publisher=CBS Studios]

Peters worked with Charlton Heston on several theater productions in the 1940s and 1950s. The two became friends and subsequently worked together on several films, including "Major Dundee", "Soylent Green", and "Two-Minute Warning".

He also voiced Soul Power in the cartoon "Static Shock" (2000 – 2004).

He died in Los Angeles, California of pancreatic cancer on August 23, 2005 at the age of 78.

Notable Performances

* Sergeant Brown in "Carmen Jones" (1954 film version)
* Crown in "Porgy and Bess" (1959 film version)
* Tom Robinson in "To Kill a Mockingbird" (1962)
* Johnny in "The L Shaped Room" (1962)
* Aesop in "Major Dundee" (1965)
* Stephen Kumalo in "Lost in the Stars" (stage version and 1974 film version) — nominated for a Tony Award
* Lieutenant Hatcher in the film "Soylent Green"
* Darth Vader in the "Star Wars" radio series
* The Ogre in the "Faerie Tale Theatre" episode "Puss in Boots".
* Det. Frank Lewis in "The Young and the Restless"
* Fleet Admiral Cartwright in ' and '.
* Lucius Fox in ""
* Joseph Sisko, Benjamin Sisko's father, in ""
* Dark Kat in "SWAT Kats The Radical Squadron", Bloth in Pirates of Dark Water, Tormack in Galtar and the Golden Lance and Boneyard in Gravedale High.
* An uncredited voice-acting performance as the boxer Jack Johnson on the Miles Davis album "A Tribute to Jack Johnson".

Deep Space Nine appearances

* "Homefront"
* "Paradise Lost"
* "A Time to Stand"
* "Far Beyond the Stars"
* "Image in the Sand"
* "Shadows and Symbols"

References

External links

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