Workshop Foundation, Inc.
On this day in Jamaican history: On July 24, 1914, Hollywood actor Frank Silvera was born in Kingston, Jamaica. As a light-skinned black man, he played and landed roles designated for whites. He once said he attempted to get a part in a TV drama as a black elevator operator. The producer rejected him as being too light-skinned. He left the producer’s office, then returned. “Am I light enough to play one of the white parts?” He got the job. Silvera was known as “the man with a thousand faces” because of his ability to play a wide array of roles.
Selected filmographyÂ
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1952 | The Cimarron Kid | Stacey Marshall | |
| 1952 | The Fighter | Paulino | |
| 1952 | Viva Zapata! | Victoriano Huerta | |
| 1952 | The Miracle of Our Lady of Fatima | Arturo dos Santos | |
| 1953 | White Mane | Narrator | |
| 1953 | Fear and Desire | Sgt. Mac | |
| 1954 | The Lonely Night | The Narrator | |
| 1955 | Death Tide | Eric Paulsen | |
| 1955 | Killer’s Kiss | Vincent Rapallo | |
| 1956 | Crowded Paradise | Papa Diaz | |
| 1959 | Crime and Punishment U.S.A. | Lieutenant Porter | |
| 1960 | Heller in Pink Tights | Santis | |
| 1960 | The Mountain Road | Col. Kwan | |
| 1960 | Key Witness | Det. Rafael Torno | |
| 1962 | Mutiny on the Bounty | Minarii | |
| 1963 | Toys in the Attic | Henry Simpson | |
| 1963 | Lonnie | Paco | |
| 1965 | The Greatest Story Ever Told | Caspar | |
| 1966 | The Appaloosa | Ramos | |
| 1967 | Hombre | Mexican bandit | |
| 1967 | The St. Valentine’s Day Massacre | Nick Sorello | |
| 1968 | The Stalking Moon | Major | |
| 1968 | Up Tight! | Kyle | |
| 1969 | Guns of the Magnificent Seven | Lobero | |
| 1969 | Che! | Goatherd | |
| 1971 | Valdez Is Coming | Diego | Released posthumously |
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1951-1957 | Studio One in Hollywood | Various roles | 2 episodes |
| 1954 | The Marriage | Mr. Ramon | Episode #1.1 |
| 1955 | Producers’ Showcase | Judge | Episode: “The Skin of Our Teeth” |
| 1957 | The Seven Lively Arts | John | Episode: “The World of Nick Adams” |
| 1958 | Wanted: Dead or Alive | Sheriff Will Echert | Episode: “Sheriff At Red Rock” |
| 1958 | Playhouse 90 | Nick Serrello | Episode: “Seven Against the Wall” |
| 1958 | Perry Mason | Jonathan Hyett | Episode: “The Case of the Fancy Figures” |
| 1959 | Alfred Hitchcock Presents | Mr. Roderiguez | Episode: “A Personal Matter” |
| 1959 | Dick Powell’s Zane Grey Theater | Ysidro | Episode: “Trouble at Tres Cruces” |
| 1959 | Decoy | Andrew Garcia | Episode: “Across the World” |
| 1959 | Bat Masterson | Grasia | Episode: “The Romany Knives” |
| 1959 | The Lineup | Papa Vanetti | Episode: “My Son is a Stranger” |
| 1959 | The Man From Blackhawk | Kiczek | Episode: “The Gypsy Story” |
| 1960 | Johnny Ringo | Bevinetto | Episode: “Shoot the Moon” |
| 1960 | The Law and Mr. Jones | Garcia | Episode: “Music to Hurt By” |
| 1960 | Thriller | Cesare Romano/Charlie Roman | Episode: “The Guilty Men” |
| 1960 | Hong Kong | Kivori | Episode: “Freebooter” |
| 1960 | The Rebel | Cota | Episode: “Deathwatch” |
| 1960 | Riverboat | Colonel Ashley | Episode: “Devil in Skirts” |
| 1960 | The Untouchables | Dino Patrone | Episode: “A Seat on the Fence” |
| 1961-1964 | Bonanza | Various roles | 2 episodes |
| 1962 | The Twilight Zone | Dr. Koslenko | Episode: “Person or Persons Unknown“ |
| 1962 | The New Breed | John Hernandez | Episode: “My Brother’s Keeper” |
| 1962 | The Beachcomber | Various roles | 2 episodes |
| 1962 | The Dick Powell Show | Episode: “Borderline” | |
| 1963 | The Defenders | Ballin | Episode: “The Last Illusion” |
| 1963 | The Travels of Jaimie McPheeters | The Indian, Speaks to the Wind | Episode: “The Day of the Taboo Man” |
| 1964 | The Great Adventure | Gambi | Episode: “The Pirate and the Patriot” |
| 1964 | Channing | Episode: “Memory of a Firing Squad” | |
| 1964 | The Alfred Hitchcock Hour | Alejandro | Episode: “The Life Work of Juan Diaz” |
| 1964 | Mr. Novak | Andy Towner | Episode: “Boy Under Glass” |
| 1964-1965 | Kraft Suspense Theatre | Various roles | 2 episodes |
| 1965 | Profiles in Courage | Episode: “Hamilton Fish” | |
| 1965 | Daniel Boone | Marcel Bouvier | Episode: “Daughter of the Devil” |
| 1965 | Rawhide | Pajarito | Episode: “El Hombre Bravo” |
| 1965 | Gunsmoke | John Drago | Episode: “Death Watch” |
| 1966 | I Spy | Munoz | Episode: “Crusade to Limbo” |
| 1966 | The Rat Patrol | Arab Leader | Episode: “The Chain of Death Raid” |
| 1966 | Run for Your Life | Esteban | Episode: “The Shock of Recognition” |
| 1967 | Dundee and the Culhane | Luis Montoya | Episode: “The Vasquez Brief” |
| 1967 | The Wild Wild West | El Sordo | Episode: “The Night of Jack O’Diamonds” |
| 1967-1970 | The High Chaparral | Don Sebastian Montoya | 14 episodes |
| 1968 | The Young Loner | Carlos | Television film |
| 1968-1971 | The Wonderful World of Disney | Carlos | 4 episodes |
| 1969 | Marcus Welby, M.D. | Nick Eugenides | Episode: “The Vrahnas Demon” |
| 1970 | The Flying Nun | Thomas Sebastien Martinez | Episode: “No Tears for Mrs. Thomas” |
| 1970 | Hawaii Five-O | Frank Kuakua | Episode: “Paniolo” |
| 1971 | The Boy from Dead Man’s Bayou | Television film Aired posthumously |
|
| 1976 | Perilous Voyage | Gen. Salazar | Television film Aired posthumously, (final film role) |
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