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Biography

Percy Verwayen

Overview

  • Born
    March 10, 1895 · British Guiana
  • Died
    November 1968 · New York City, New York, USA

Biography

  • 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.
    - IMDb mini biography by: Alicia T. (MsLadySoul@aol.com)

Trivia

  • Originated the role of Sporting Life in the play 'Porgy,' written by Dorothy Heyward and DuBose Heyward, when it premiered on Broadway in 1927 under the direction of Rouben Mamoulian. He returned to the role in a 1929 revival, also directed by Mamoulian.

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