People, Locations, Episodes

Adolph Caesar, Actor born

Adolph Caesar, (the Color Purple)

On this date in 1933, Adolph Caesar, a Black actor, was born.

Born in Harlem, New York, Caesar graduated from George Washington High School in New York City. He enlisted in the Navy and achieved the rank of chief petty officer.

After military retirement, he studied dramatic arts at New York University. In 1970, he joined the Negro Ensemble Company, performing in many of their productions, including "The River Niger," "The Brownsville Road," and the one-person show "The Square Root of Soul." He worked with the New York Shakespeare Festival, the Lincoln Center Repertory Company, the American Shakespeare Company in Stratford, Connecticut, and the Center Theater Group at the Mark Tapper Forum in Los Angeles.

Caesar came to prominence in 1981 with a strong performance as Sgt. Vernon C. Waters in the Negro Ensemble Company’s production of "A Soldier’s Play." This earned him an Obie Award and a New York Drama Desk Award.

His performance in the film version of the same drama earned him an Oscar nomination for best supporting actor in 1984. Other credits included "The Color Purple" (1985) and "Club Paradise" (1986). Adolph Caesar died during filming on March 6, 1986.

To become an Actor or Actress.