One of the greatest and most notable African-American actors and singers was Paul Robeson. He was a multi-talented individual who began his athletic career playing football at Rutgers University. He made his international acting and singing debuts in theater and movies at the same time. He did not confine his indulgences to purely creative pursuits; rather, he played a central role in political action and actively supported causes such as social injustice, the Spanish Civil War, and fascism. His extreme anti-communism and anti-imperialism views resulted in his exclusion from the country. He continued to speak out against those who supported social injustice and never gave up the fight for equality. He lost his passport, which prevented him from performing outside of America, but this did not stop him from continuing to publish his ideas, opinions, and criticisms of U.S. policies monthly. Only later in his life, as a result of health issues, did he withdraw from public life. For his work as an actor and activist, Robeson received several major honors after his death.
Early Childhood & Life
Of the Reverend William Drew Robeson and Maria Louisa Bustill’s five children, Paul Robeson was the youngest. At Princeton’s Witherspoon Street Presbyterian Church, his father was a minister.
Young Robeson lived in poverty and struggled after his mother perished in a home fire and his father resigned from his rector duties.
In Somerville, New Jersey, Robeson attended Somerville High School. Being gifted with a fit body and a passion for athletics, he excelled in a variety of activities, including football, basketball, baseball, and track. He also performed in the chorus, Othello, and Julius Caesar here.
He was the third African-American to enroll at the elite university after winning a scholarship to study there in 1915. He joined the debate team, the glee club, and the collegiate athletic team at the college, where he excelled in extracurricular activities. He received accolades for his abilities in singing, sports, and academics.
He earned varsity letters in several sports and four yearly oratorical victories before leaving the university in 1919. He was the valedictorian of his class. He performed exceptionally well academically and athletically, earning top marks.
He started attending the New York University School of Law in 1919. He accepted a job as an assistant football coach in Lincoln in order to make a living. His time at NYU was brief, though, as he transferred to Columbia Law School in 1920.
As Simon in Ridgely Torrence’s “Simon of Cyrene,” he made his theatrical debut after considerable prodding from his lover and future wife, Eslanda Essie Goode.
He started acting while finishing his legal studies and appeared in several plays, including Mary Hoyt Wiborg’s “Taboo” and the NFL’s “Akron Pros.” Additionally, he performed in the chorus of the Off-Broadway play Shuffle Along.
He came back to Columbia to play for the Milwaukee Badgers of the NFL. In 1922, he retired from football with this. He received a degree in legal studies from the law school that same year.
Career of Paul Robeson
After earning his degree, he applied for a career in law but was rejected because of the pervasive prejudice that was present in legal companies. He made a career change and began performing.
He played Jim in Eugene O’Neill’s “All God’s Chillun Got Wings” and Brutus in the revival of “The Emperor Jones” among other early parts. Both roles were warmly accepted and earned favorable critical feedback.
His early achievement propelled him into the public eye and stardom. His wife left her job to work as his agent, which increased his star power even more. In the silent movie “Body and Soul,” she helped him land his first acting part.
He performed spirituals in charity performances in addition to his acting work. He collaborated with Lawrence Brown and Roland Hayes to improvise a set of spirituals as a result of this performance. Victor Records offered him a contract after hearing his heartfelt performances.
He resumed performing in 1928, appearing at the Theatre Royal as Joe in the American musical “Show Boat.” The production ran for 350 performances, making it the most successful endeavor.
The popularity of his song “Old Man River” grew concurrently. He was invited to perform for a Royal Command Performance at Buckingham Palace as a result of his widespread popularity.
He and his wife had an appearance in the groundbreaking experimental film “Borderline” in the early 1930s. After that, he went back to the West End to play Othello, alongside Peggy Ashcroft. The public’s reaction to his depiction of Othello was conflicted; while they recognized his talent, they did not enjoy his lack of style.
He brought back his Joe persona for the Broadway production of “Show Boat” in 1932, and both the critics and the general public praised him greatly.
He then played Brutus again in the movie version of “The Emperor Jones.” The movie was unique because an African-American starred as the main character for the first time.
He enrolled in the School of Oriental and African Studies in 1934 in order to study 20 different languages. Following this desire for several languages, he wrote an article titled “I Want to Be African” in which he expressed his desire to embrace every aspect of his ancestors’ rich cultural heritage.
After that, he appeared in the 1935 movie “Sanders of the River.” He performed the part of Bosambo in the film. Although the film cemented his status as a worldwide star, it also generated a great deal of controversy due to his portrayal of a colonial African.
After that, he had other cinematic appearances, including “Song of Freedom,” “Show Boat,” “Big Fella,” “My Song Goes Forth,” and “King Solomon’s Mines.” His contributions helped him gain notoriety among British actors.
He became a political activist when the Spanish War broke out and began promoting the Republican cause throughout his musical appearances. He went to Spain in 1938 to give Republicans some inspiration. He later changed his career to focus on the struggles of the average person.
He came back to the United States when World War II started to work as an entertainer. He created great radio shows and films. After performing in “Tales in Manhattan,” he withdrew from the film industry due to the humiliating roles that were available for black actors. He dabbled in trips instead.
He performed Othello at the Shubert Theatre again in 1943, making him the first African-American to play the part on Broadway with a white supporting cast. He also actively spoke out against lynching and segregation as a civil rights activist.
He established the American Crusade Against Lynching in 1946. He urged the populace to pressure Congress into passing civil rights legislation. He was categorized as a menace to American democracy as a result of his anti-colonial actions and black racial class.
He was repeatedly urged to give up his activity, but eventually, his passport was revoked, making it impossible for him to travel internationally. He engaged in court disputes that lasted for the majority of the following ten years.
He struggled for eight years before succeeding in getting his passport back. After that, he began traveling once more and began presenting concerts in England and Australia. But his suffering resulted in drug addiction, attempted suicide, and a psychological breakdown. In a London hospital, he was treated.
After coming home, he stopped performing live and only offered sporadic performances. She gradually withdrew from his public life as a result of his declining health and diminished abilities as an orator and vocalist. His last years were largely spent in solitude.
Recognition & Achievements
He received the International Stalin Prize from the USSR in 1952.
He was given many honors after his death, including the Springarn Medal, the Donaldson Award, the Lifetime Achievement Grammy Award, and the Academy Award.
In 1995, he was admitted to the College Football Hall of Fame.
Personal Legacy & Life
In 1920, he began dating Eslanda Essie Goode. A year later, the two became legally married. Paul Jr., the couple’s first child, was a blessing.
As he allegedly engaged in extramarital affairs, the marriage entered a difficult period. The ultimate straw that broke the marriage was an affair with Ashcroft.
They separated and started a divorce process. But after hearing some advice from his old football coach, he gave up on Ashcroft and made a final peace with Essie.
His cardiac issues caused his health to start drastically declining in 1960. He experienced numerous health issues in the second half of his life before passing away on January 23, 1976, as a result of complications from a stroke.
A funeral was held at his brother’s church, Mother AME Zion, where he was laid to rest. He was buried in Hartsdale, New York’s Ferncliff Cemetery.
Several public and private institutions were named in his honor following his passing. Prestigious institutions like the Academy of Arts, Howard University, and the Schomburg Center have collections of his works.
He was recognized by the US Postal Service with a 37-cent stamp. Additionally, Criterion Collection, a business that specializes in publishing special edition versions of classic and modern films, published his movies as a DVD boxed set.
Paul Robeson’s Net Worth
Paul is one of the wealthiest and most well-known stage actors. Paul Robeson’s net worth is roughly $1.5 million, according to our analysis of data from sources like Wikipedia, Forbes, and Business Insider.
Trivia
This African-American performer and activist played the title character of Shakespeare’s Othello on Broadway. By 2011, the play had broken the record for the longest-running Shakespearean production ever mounted on Broadway.