Paul Robeson
Actor
1898 - 1976
Profession
ActorSinger
Hometown
Princeton, NJ
Overview
Paul Robeson’s commanding presence helped him craft some of his era’s most memorable and powerful characters, from the Nigerian chief Bosambo in Sanders of the River (1935) to Othello on the British stage. His deep bass-baritone also led him to musicals, like Show Boat (1936), and afforded him a successful singing career after he was blacklisted at the height of the Red Scare. In 1949, the US State Department canceled his passport due to his vocal support of the Soviet Union and his willingness to decry racism against Black Americans.
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About the Filmography
The selected filmography for the years 1897–1971 includes works featured in the exhibition and others that are considered historically, socially, or politically relevant. Hollywood productions are generally excluded; the focus is instead on independent films, particularly the work of Black filmmakers. Black Academy Award nominees and winners are noted. This filmography was compiled using the AFI Catalog of Feature Films and various filmographies, including those by Klotman, Richards, and Hyatt. Primary production materials and contemporaneous film reviews were also consulted. Complete credits for many of the films are unavailable. All films are US productions unless otherwise noted, and distribution credits refer to the original distributors.