Percy Verwayen(1895-1968)
- Actor
Percy Verwayen is another unsung acting talent of stage and screen. In
his time, he was considered the best of the Black actors. He never
appeared in any Hollywood movies though he graced the Black Cinema
screen many times with his exceptional acting and became one of the top
leading men. His screen image and talent was in the same fashion of
Edward G. Robinson, James Cagney, and Humphrey Bogart. He was a "bad
boy" you love to hate, tough as nails, and he had a charm and magnetic
attraction to him, but he was never too big to fall, and when he would
he would beg and plea with his life like a true thespian. On stage or
screen, he always gave a good show, he was a force to be reckoned with,
appearing in top stage shows like, "Black Boy," "Porgy," "Singin The
Blues," and other hits alongside legends like Paul Robeson. He was
tough and confident and it always showed in his work, some say he had
the temperament and drive of John Barrymore. Because of his light
complexion and Spanish features he was turned down for many parts and
not given the same opportunities as a black actor with more color in
his skin like Paul Robeson.
