FS
Frank Silvera
Actor
Died June 11, 1970 (55 years)
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.
Frank Silvera (July 24, 1914 – June 11, 1970) was an American actor and theatrical director.
Silvera was born in Kingston, Jamaica the son of a mixed race Jamaican mother, Gertrude Bell and Spanish Jewish father, Alfred Silvera. His family emigrated to the United States when he was six-years old, settling in Boston. Silvera became interested in acting and began performing in amateur theatrical groups and at church. He graduated from English High School of Boston and then studied at Boston University, followed by the Northeastern Law School.
Silvera left Northeastern Law School in 1934, when he was cast in Paul Green's production of Roll Sweet Chariot. He next joined the New England Repertory Theatre where he appeared in productions of MacBeth, Othello and The Emperor Jones. He also worked at Federal Theatre and with the New Hampshire Repertory Theatre. In 1940, Silvera made his Broadway debut in a small role in Big White Fog. His career was interrupted in 1942, when he enlisted in the United States Navy during World War II. He was assigned to Camp Robert Smalls, where he and Owen Dodson were in charge of entertainment. Silvera directed and acted in radio programs and appeared in USO shows. Honorably discharged at the war's end in 1945, he joined the cast of Anna Lucasta and became a member of the Actors Studio.
In 1952, Silvera made his film debut in the western, The Cimarron Kid. Because of his strongly Latin appearance, he was cast in a variety of ethnic roles in films and television. He was cast as General Huerta in Viva Zapata! which starred Marlon Brando. Silvera also portrayed the role in the stage production, which opened at the Regent Theatre in New York City on February 28, 1952. He appeared in two films directed by Stanley Kubrick, Fear and Desire (1953) and Killer's Kiss (1955).
Silvera made guest appearances in numerous television series, mainly dramas and westerns, including Studio One in Hollywood, Alfred Hitchcock Presents, Bat Masterson, Thriller, Riverboat, The Travels of Jaimie McPheeters, The Untouchables, and Bonanza. In 1962 he portrayed Dr. Koslenko in The Twilight Zone episode "Person or Persons Unknown", opposite Richard Long. That year, he also played Minarii, a Polynesian man in the 1962 film Mutiny on the Bounty, again starring Marlon Brando. In 1963, Silvera was nominated for a Tony Award for Best Actor in a Play for playing Monsieur Duval in The Lady of the Camellias.
In 1964, Silvera and Vantile Whitfield founded the Theatre of Being, a Los Angeles-based theatre dedicated to providing black actors with non-stereotypical roles. One of their first projects was producing The Amen Corner by African-American writer James Baldwin. Silvera and Whitfield financed the play themselves and with donations from friends. It opened on March 4, 1964 and would gross $200,000 within the year, moving to Broadway in April 1965. Beah Richards won critical acclaim for her performance as the lead.
Silvera was killed on June 11, 1970, after accidentally electrocuting himself while repairing a garbage disposal unit in his kitchen sink.
Description above from the Wikipedia article Frank Silvera, licensed under CC-BY-SA, full list of contributors on Wikipedia.
Frank Silvera (July 24, 1914 – June 11, 1970) was an American actor and theatrical director.
Silvera was born in Kingston, Jamaica the son of a mixed race Jamaican mother, Gertrude Bell and Spanish Jewish father, Alfred Silvera. His family emigrated to the United States when he was six-years old, settling in Boston. Silvera became interested in acting and began performing in amateur theatrical groups and at church. He graduated from English High School of Boston and then studied at Boston University, followed by the Northeastern Law School.
Silvera left Northeastern Law School in 1934, when he was cast in Paul Green's production of Roll Sweet Chariot. He next joined the New England Repertory Theatre where he appeared in productions of MacBeth, Othello and The Emperor Jones. He also worked at Federal Theatre and with the New Hampshire Repertory Theatre. In 1940, Silvera made his Broadway debut in a small role in Big White Fog. His career was interrupted in 1942, when he enlisted in the United States Navy during World War II. He was assigned to Camp Robert Smalls, where he and Owen Dodson were in charge of entertainment. Silvera directed and acted in radio programs and appeared in USO shows. Honorably discharged at the war's end in 1945, he joined the cast of Anna Lucasta and became a member of the Actors Studio.
In 1952, Silvera made his film debut in the western, The Cimarron Kid. Because of his strongly Latin appearance, he was cast in a variety of ethnic roles in films and television. He was cast as General Huerta in Viva Zapata! which starred Marlon Brando. Silvera also portrayed the role in the stage production, which opened at the Regent Theatre in New York City on February 28, 1952. He appeared in two films directed by Stanley Kubrick, Fear and Desire (1953) and Killer's Kiss (1955).
Silvera made guest appearances in numerous television series, mainly dramas and westerns, including Studio One in Hollywood, Alfred Hitchcock Presents, Bat Masterson, Thriller, Riverboat, The Travels of Jaimie McPheeters, The Untouchables, and Bonanza. In 1962 he portrayed Dr. Koslenko in The Twilight Zone episode "Person or Persons Unknown", opposite Richard Long. That year, he also played Minarii, a Polynesian man in the 1962 film Mutiny on the Bounty, again starring Marlon Brando. In 1963, Silvera was nominated for a Tony Award for Best Actor in a Play for playing Monsieur Duval in The Lady of the Camellias.
In 1964, Silvera and Vantile Whitfield founded the Theatre of Being, a Los Angeles-based theatre dedicated to providing black actors with non-stereotypical roles. One of their first projects was producing The Amen Corner by African-American writer James Baldwin. Silvera and Whitfield financed the play themselves and with donations from friends. It opened on March 4, 1964 and would gross $200,000 within the year, moving to Broadway in April 1965. Beah Richards won critical acclaim for her performance as the lead.
Silvera was killed on June 11, 1970, after accidentally electrocuting himself while repairing a garbage disposal unit in his kitchen sink.
Description above from the Wikipedia article Frank Silvera, licensed under CC-BY-SA, full list of contributors on Wikipedia.
Filmography
| 1971 | Valdez Is Coming · as Diego |
| 1971 | The Boy from Dead Man's Bayou · as Uncle Maxim |
| 1969 | Che! · as Goatherd |
| 1969 | Guns of the Magnificent Seven · as Lobero |
| 1969 | Marcus Welby, M.D. (TV Series) · as Nick Eugenides |
| 1968 | Uptight · as Kyle |
| 1968 | The Stalking Moon · as Major |
| 1968 | Hawaii Five-O (TV Series) · as Frank Kuakua |
| 1967 | The High Chaparral (TV Series) · as Don Sebastian Montoya |
| 1967 | The Flying Nun (TV Series) · as Thomas |
| 1967 | The St. Valentine's Day Massacre · as Nick Sorello |
| 1967 | Hombre · as Mexican Bandit |
| 1966 | The Appaloosa · as Ramos |
| 1966 | The Rat Patrol (TV Series) · as Arab Leader |
| 1965 | The Wild Wild West (TV Series) · as El Sordo |
| 1965 | I Spy (TV Series) · as Munoz |
| 1965 | Run for Your Life (TV Series) · as Esteban |
| 1965 | The Greatest Story Ever Told · as Caspar |
| 1964 | Profiles in Courage (TV Series) · as Lemus |
| 1964 | Daniel Boone (TV Series) · as Marcel Bouvier |
| 1963 | Kraft Suspense Theatre (TV Series) · as Sgt. Terrell |
| 1963 | The Great Adventure (TV Series) · as Gambi |
| 1963 | Mr. Novak (TV Series) · as Andy Towner |
| 1963 | Channing (TV Series) · as Juan Delcort |
| 1963 | The Travels of Jaimie McPheeters (TV Series) · as Speaks To The Wind |
| 1963 | Toys in the Attic · as Henry Simpson |
| 1962 | Mutiny on the Bounty · as Minarii |
| 1962 | The Alfred Hitchcock Hour (TV Series) · as Alejandro |
| 1961 | The New Breed (TV Series) · as John Hernandez |
| 1961 | The Dick Powell Show (TV Series) · as Ordes |
| 1961 | The Defenders (TV Series) · as Ballin |
| 1960 | The Law and Mr. Jones (TV Series) · as Garcia |
| 1960 | Key Witness · as Det. Rafael Torno |
| 1960 | Thriller (TV Series) · as Cesare Romano Aka Charlie Roman |
| 1960 | The Mountain Road · as Colonel Kwan |
| 1960 | Hong Kong (TV Series) · as Kivori |
| 1960 | Heller in Pink Tights · as Santis |
| 1959 | |
| 1959 | The Twilight Zone (TV Series) · as Dr. Koslenko |
| 1959 | Johnny Ringo (TV Series) · as Bevinetto |
| 1959 | Riverboat (TV Series) · as Colonel Ashley |
| 1959 | |
| 1959 | Crime & Punishment, USA · as Lt. Porter |
| 1959 | The Untouchables (TV Series) · as Dino Patrone |
| 1959 | Rawhide (TV Series) · as Pajarito |
| 1958 | Bat Masterson (TV Series) · as Grasia |
| 1958 | Wanted: Dead or Alive (TV Series) · as Sheriff Will Eckert |
| 1957 | Decoy (TV Series) · as Andrew Garcia |
| 1957 | Perry Mason (TV Series) · as Jonathan Hyett |
| 1956 | Zane Grey Theater (TV Series) · as Ysidro |
| 1956 | Playhouse 90 (TV Series) · as Nick Serrello |
| 1955 | Alfred Hitchcock Presents (TV Series) · as Mr. Roderiguez |
| 1955 | Killer's Kiss · as Vincent Rapallo |
| 1955 | Gunsmoke (TV Series) · as John Drago |
| 1955 | Death Tide · as Eric |
| 1954 | Disneyland (TV Series) · as Carlos |
| 1954 | Producers' Showcase (TV Series) · as Judge |
| 1954 | The Lineup (TV Series) · as Papa Vanetti |
| 1953 | White Mane · as Narrator (english) (voice) |
| 1952 | Fear and Desire · as Mac |
| 1952 | The Miracle of Our Lady of Fatima · as Council Administrator Arturo Dos Santos |
| 1952 | Viva Zapata! · as Huerta |
| 1952 | The Cimarron Kid · as Stacey Marshall |
| 1952 | The Fighter · as Paulino |
| 1951 | Schlitz Playhouse of Stars (TV Series) · as Snettishane |
| 1950 | Bezoek aan Picasso · as Commentator |
| 1949 | The Big Story (TV Series) · as Jamie Goodwin |
| 1948 | Studio One (TV Series) · as Miguel Ramando |
| 1940 | Maryland · as Worshipper |