Rupert Crosse
- For the British lawyer, see Rupert Cross.
| Rupert Crosse | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Born |
November 29, 1927 New York City, New York, U.S. |
| Died |
March 5, 1973 (aged 45) Nevis, West Indies |
| Cause of death | Lung cancer |
| Nationality | American |
| Alma mater | Bloomfield College |
| Occupation | Actor |
| Years active | 1959–1972 |
| Spouse(s) | Chris Calloway (m. 1970–73) |
| Children | 1 |
| Relatives | Cab Calloway (father-in-law) |
Rupert Crosse (November 29, 1927 – March 5, 1973) was an American television and film actor.[1] Crosse was the first African American to be nominated for a Best Supporting Actor Academy Award for his role in the 1969 adaptation of William Faulkner's The Reivers.[2]
Early life and career
Born in New York City, Crosse was raised by his grandparents in Nevis after the death of his father. He returned to the United States to serve in the Army for two years before entering Bloomfield College. Crosse later worked at Brooklyn College as a counselor. After studying acting under John Cassavetes, Crosse appeared in two of Cassavetes' films: Shadows (for which he won a Venice Film Festival Award) and Too Late Blues (1962).[3]
A life member of The Actors Studio,[4] Crosse made numerous guest appearances on television in the decade prior to landing the role of Ned McCaslin in the 1969 film The Reivers, directed by and starring fellow Studio members Mark Rydell and Steve McQueen, respectively. His last onscreen role was in the sitcom The Partners, alongside Don Adams.[5] Shortly before his death, Crosse was cast as Mulhall in The Last Detail (1973), but backed out after being diagnosed with terminal cancer.[6]
Personal life
In 1970, Crosse married singer Chris Calloway, daughter of Cab Calloway. They had one son, Rupert Osaze Dia Crosse, who was nine months old at the time of Crosse's death.[7] Their son died in 2002 from a heart condition brought on by prior drug abuse.[8] Calloway died of breast cancer in August 2008.[9]
Death
On March 5, 1973, Crosse died of lung cancer in Nevis.[3]
Filmography
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1959 | Shadows | Rupert | |
| 1959 | Johnny Staccato | Redtop | Episode: "Collector's Item" |
| 1961 | Rawhide | A Trooper | Episode: "Incident of the Buffalo Soldier" |
| 1961 | Have Gun – Will Travel | Aaron Jedediah Gibbs | Episode: "The Hanging of Aaron Gibbs" |
| 1961 | Too Late Blues | Baby Jackson | |
| 1962 | The Dick Powell Show | Episode: "Borderline" | |
| 1963 | Alfred Hitchcock Presents | Dr. Paul Mackey | Episode: "Diagnosis: Danger" |
| 1963 | Twilight of Honor | Jailer's assistant | Uncredited |
| 1963 | The Great Adventure | William Still | Episode: "Go Down, Moses" |
| 1963–1964 | Ben Casey | George | 2 episodes |
| 1964 | Marnie | Office worker | Uncredited |
| 1964–1966 | The Man from U.N.C.L.E. | General Molte Nobuk Corporal Remy |
2 episodes |
| 1965 | Ride in the Whirlwind | Indian Joe | |
| 1965 | Wild Seed | Hobo | Alternative title: Fargo |
| 1965 | The Wackiest Ship in the Army | Episode: "The Lady and the Luluai" | |
| 1966 | Dr. Kildare | George Parker | 2 episodes |
| 1966 | That Girl | Police officer | Episode: "I'll Be Suing You" |
| 1966 | Daktari | Kukuia | Episode: "The Test" |
| 1966 | Run for Your Life | Hotel Clerk | Episode: "The Treasure Seekers" |
| 1966 | The Girl from U.N.C.L.E. | Tchelba | Episode: "The Jewels of Topango Affair" |
| 1967 | CBS Playhouse | Funeral director | Episode: "The Final War of Olly Winter" |
| 1967 | I Spy | Chester | Episode: "Cops and Robbers" |
| 1967 | Cowboy in Africa | Jama | Episode: "Incident at Derati Wells" |
| 1967 | Waterhole #3 | Prince | |
| 1967 | The Monkees | Thursday | Episode: "Monkees Marooned" |
| 1968 | Felony Squad | Ray Hawkins | 2 episodes |
| 1969 | The Reivers | Ned McCaslin | Nominated: Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor |
| 1970 | Bonanza | Davis | Episode: "The Power of Life and Death" |
| 1970 | Storefront Lawyers | Johnson | Episode: "The Emancipation of Bessie Gray" |
| 1970 | The Bill Cosby Show | Felix E. LeBlanc | Episode: "The Lincoln Letter" |
| 1970 | Bracken's World | Freddy Webster, Sr. | Episode: "Will Freddy's Real Father Please Stand Up?" |
| 1971 | Confessions of a Top Crime Buster | Detective George Robinson | Television movie |
| 1971–1972 | The Partners | Detective George Robinson | 20 episodes |
References
- ↑ Obituary Variety, March 28, 1973.
- ↑ Mapp, Edward (2008). African Americans and the Oscar: Decades Of Struggle and Achievement (2 ed.). Rowman & Littlefield. p. 21. ISBN 0-8108-6106-2.
- 1 2 "Television's Rupert Crosse Dies of Cancer In Jamaica". Jet. Johnson Publishing Company. 44 (1): 59. 1973-03-29. ISSN 0021-5996.
- ↑ Garfield, David (1980). "Appendix: Life Members of The Actors Studio as of January 1980". A Player's Place: The Story of The Actors Studio. New York: MacMillan Publishing Co., Inc. p. 278. ISBN 0-02-542650-8.
- ↑ "Rupert Crosse Gets Role On New Show". Waycross Journal-Herald. 1971-07-12. p. P3. Retrieved 11 December 2012.
- ↑ Mapp, Edward (2008). African Americans and the Oscar: Decades Of Struggle and Achievement (2 ed.). Rowman & Littlefield. p. 22. ISBN 0-8108-6106-2.
- ↑ "Sexy Chris and 'Daddy'". The Afro American. 1979-03-10. p. 11. Retrieved 11 December 2012.
- ↑ Foster, Catherine (2009-11-09). "In Cab Calloway's family, one intrepid woman inspires another". boston.com. Retrieved 11 December 2012.
- ↑ Weideman, Paul (2008-08-08). "Chris Calloway, 1945-2008: Jazz diva gracious in battle with cancer". santafenewmexican.com. Retrieved 11 December 2012.