Remembering Brock Peters
Actor Brock Peters, perhaps best known for his heartbreaking performance in the 1962 film To Kill a Mockingbird, died Tuesday at his home in Los Angeles after battling pancreatic cancer. He was 78.
He was diagnosed with the disease in January and had been receiving chemotherapy treatment. His condition became worse in recent weeks and he died peacefully in bed, surrounded by family.
Peters was born George Fisher on July 2, 1927, in New York and began his movie career in the 1950s with the landmark productions of Carmen Jones with Dorothy Dandridge and Harry Belafonte in 1954, and Porgy and Bess with Sidney Poitier, Dandridge and Sammy Davis Jr. in 1959.
His voice also landed him work. He sang background vocals on Belafonte's hits Banana Boat (Day-O) and Mama Look At Bubu, and he was often used for animated characters such as Jomo in 2002's The Wild Thornberrys Movie.
In recent years, he played Admiral Cartwright in two of the Star Trek feature films and also appeared in numerous TV shows.
But he was probably best known for portraying accused rapist Tom Robinson, defended by Gregory Peck's Atticus Finch in the 1962 film To Kill a Mockingbird.
"He was such a dear friend and one of the most lovely human beings I knew in my life," said Mary Badham who played Jean Louise "Scout" Finch in the film. "I am just devastated at his loss."
Badham had just visited Peters at his home a few weeks ago. Since making the film, Badham had remained close with Peters, joining him numerous times for visits around the country.
Peters paid tribute to Peck after he died in 2003.
"In art there is compassion, in compassion there is humanity, with humanity there is generosity and love," Peters said. "Gregory Peck gave us these attributes in full measure."
Peters recounted how shortly before he was to start filming, he was awakened early on a Sunday morning by a phone call from Peck to welcome him to the production. He was so surprised, he recalled, that he dropped the telephone.
"I worked over the years in many, many productions, but no one ever again called me to welcome me aboard, except perhaps the director and the producer, but not my fellow actor-to-be."
Among Peters' other films were Soylent Green, The L-Shaped Room and The Pawnbroker.
His accolades include a National Film Society Award, a Life Achievement Award from the Screen Actors Guild, and a Tony Award nomination for his performance on Broadway in Lost in the Stars.
In a 1985 story by The Associated Press on blacks in the movies, Peters said there had been a string of recent hits involving blacks, but "I have been here a long time, and I have seen this cycle happen before. I'll wait awhile and see if this flurry of activity leads to anything permanent."
Peters was a widower and has one daughter, Lise Jo Peters.
Posted by bernie at August 24, 2005 11:19 AMTrackBack