| Summary: | Actor, civil rights activist, and singer Harry Belafonte was born on March 1, 1927 in Harlem, New York City. After dropping out of high school, he joined the U.S. Navy. Returning to New York, he worked odd jobs before auditioning for the American Negro Theatre, earning his first leading role in Juno and the Paycock. In 1953, Belafonte made his film debut in Bright Road. Belafonte also developed his singing talents, and his third record, Calypso, became the first in history to sell over 1 million copies. In the 1950s, Belafonte developed a strong relationship with Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., working to mobilize the arts community to support civil rights activists. In 1985, Belafonte mobilized global artists to raise awareness about the famine, war and drought sweeping Africa. Belafonte later served as a UNICEF goodwill ambassador; and, in 2012, published his autobiography, My Song: A Memoir of Art, Race, and Defiance.
|
|---|
