Advanced search

Bahamian-born Calvin Lockhart first caught moviegoers' attention in the supercharged urban films Cotton Comes to Harlem (1970) and Halls of Anger (1970) before becoming a fairly steady fixture in the "blaxploitation" movies of the early-to-mid-1970s.

Born Bert Cooper to a large family in Nassau on October 18, 1934, he was raised there before moving to New York in his late teens with initial designs on becoming a civil engineer (Cooper Union School of Engineering). Dropping out after a year to pursue an acting career, Calvin worked as a carpenter and construction worker, among other odd jobs. He first studied with legendary coach Uta Hagen and then hit the New York theater boards. The story goes that he was discovered by playwright Ketti Frings while working as a taxi driver. She was so impressed with his arrogance that she cast him in her play "The Cool World" in 1960. From there Calvin drummed up interest via a bit of controversy on Broadway when he played a sailor in love with a white girl in the racially-themed "A Taste of Honey" starring Angela Lansbury.

Serious film and TV roles for black actors were scarce at that time, so Calvin moved to Europe. In Italy he owned a restaurant and formed his own theater company, serving as both actor and director. He also lived in Germany before settling in England. He starting building up film credits with minor work in such British movies as A Dandy in Aspic (1968) and Only When I Larf (1968). He made news in another racially-motivated project entitled Joanna (1968), which centered around a "mod", interracial romance with 'Genevieve Waite'.

Returning to the US with a stronger resume, he made a distinct early impression as a slick preacher bent on fraud in the hip cop flick Cotton Comes to Harlem (1970) and as an English teacher in the inner-city potboiler Halls of Anger (1970). He also involved himself in such black action features as Melinda (1972), Honeybaby, Honeybaby (1974) and The Baron (1977). Similar in charismatic style and intelligence to Sidney Poitier, the famed actor-director was impressed enough to cast Calvin in his broad comedy vehicles Uptown Saturday Night (1974) and Let's Do It Again (1975). Calvin could also play fey upon request, camping it up briefly in Myra Breckinridge (1970). During this rich period he also became an artist-in-residence with the Royal Shakespeare Company at Stratford (the first black actor so honored) and appeared prestigiously in such productions as "Titus Andronicus" (1972).

Calvin's career grew lackluster, however, by the end of the decade, resorting to trivial guest parts in such TV shows as Good Times (1974) and Get Christie Love! (1974). He landed a recurring role on the nighttime soap Dynasty (1981) in the early '80s.

In 1974, Calvin married a woman also from the West Indies and had three children. After his career subsided, he decided to return to his homeland in the mid '90s and resettled in Nassau with his fourth wife, Jennifer Miles. There he involved himself with the Freeport Players Guild as a director. He also returned to films after a 15-year absence, completing Rain (2008), a movie shot in the Bahamas, shortly before he suffered a major stroke. Calvin died of complications on March 29, 2007, and his family is in the process of establishing a scholarship fund in his name for Bahamian student pursuing an acting or filmmaking career.

Howard Goorney was born on 11 May 1921 in Manchester, Lancashire, England, UK. He was an actor, known for Fiddler on the Roof (1971), The Last Days of Pompeii (1984) and Crucible of Horror (1971). He was married to Stella Riley. He died on 29 March 2007 in Bath, Somerset, England, UK.

Apostolos Tegopoulos was born in 1936 in Athens, Greece. He was a director and writer. He died on 29 March 2007 in Athens, Greece.

John Gill was born on 24 October 1912 in Bedwellty, Wales, UK. He was an actor, known for Doctor Who (1963), Great Expectations (1967) and The Avengers (1961). He died on 29 March 2007 in Merton, Surrey, England, UK.

Leslie Waller was born on 1 April 1923 in Chicago, Illinois, USA. He was a writer, known for Irish Whiskey Rebellion (1972), Hide in Plain Sight (1980) and The Dog Lover (1962). He was married to Mahen, Patricia and Louise Hetzel. He died on 29 March 2007 in Rochester, New York, USA.

Claus Christofolini was an actor, known for Mask in Blue (1953), Die Drei von der Tankstelle (1955) and Die Nacht vor der Premiere (1959). He died on 29 March 2007 in Germany.

Gene McKay was born on 16 March 1934 in the USA. He was an actor, known for Modern Love (1990). He died on 29 March 2007 in Columbia, South Carolina, USA.

Manfred Züfle was born on 30 June 1936 in Baar, Kanton Zug, Switzerland. He is known for Hirtenreise ins dritte Jahrtausend (2002) and Ex Voto (1986). He died on 29 March 2007 in Zürich, Switzerland.

Maria Sidónio was born in 1921 in Portugal. She was an actress, known for A Noiva do Brasil (1945), O Amigo Público (1998) and Piano Bar (1987). She died on 29 March 2007 in Lisbon, Portugal.

Frais Campbell was married to Maurie Ellen. She died on 29 March 2007 in Tugun, Queensland, Australia.

Kay Longcope was born on 19 November 1937 in Midland, Texas, USA. Kay died on 29 March 2007 in Austin, Texas, USA.

Gina Goldman was born on 17 March 1951 in Norfolk, Virginia, USA. She was a set decorator, known for The Crew (1994) and Bad Love (1992). She died on 29 March 2007 in Los Angeles, California, USA.

Estela Chacón was born on 4 April 1944 in Mexico City, Mexico. She was an actress, known for La sombra del pecado (1966), Mariana (1968) and Marina (1974). She died on 29 March 2007 in Mexico City, Mexico.

Mimi Lerner was born on 20 May 1945 in Sambor, Lvov Oblast, Ukrainian SSR, USSR [now Sambir, Lviv Oblast, Ukraine]. She was an actress, known for Die Zauberflöte (1991). She was married to Martin Lerner. She died on 29 March 2007 in Oakland, Pennsylvania, USA.

Margarete Hannsmann was born on 10 February 1921 in Heidenheim an der Brenz, Württemberg, Germany. She was married to Heinrich Hannsmann. She died on 29 March 2007 in Stuttgart, Baden-Württemberg, Germany.