About
His role as Simon Blake on Rawhide was one of the first major ones for any black actor.
Before Fame
He started writing plays in his teenage years, and performed in a production of Othello, continuing to entertain even during his stint in the U.S. Air Force.
Trivia
His choice of roles ran the gamut, from the classic blaxploitation film Cotton Comes to Harlem, to Edward Zwick's Glory, where he played Frederick Douglas.
Family Life
He grew up in Hartford, Connecticut.
Associated With
His breakthrough role was in the 1967 movie The Comedians, alongside the husband-and-wife team of Richard Burton and Elizabeth Taylor.
