This Day In Jamaican History

On this day in Jamaican history: Hollywood actor Frank Silvera

Frank Silvera
frank silvera

Frank Silvera- Photo courtesy of The Frank Silvera Writers’
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 filmography 

Film
YearTitleRoleNotes
1952The Cimarron KidStacey Marshall
1952The FighterPaulino
1952Viva Zapata!Victoriano Huerta
1952The Miracle of Our Lady of FatimaArturo dos Santos
1953White ManeNarrator
1953Fear and DesireSgt. Mac
1954The Lonely NightThe Narrator
1955Death TideEric Paulsen
1955Killer’s KissVincent Rapallo
1956Crowded ParadisePapa Diaz
1959Crime and Punishment U.S.A.Lieutenant Porter
1960Heller in Pink TightsSantis
1960The Mountain RoadCol. Kwan
1960Key WitnessDet. Rafael Torno
1962Mutiny on the BountyMinarii
1963Toys in the AtticHenry Simpson
1963LonniePaco
1965The Greatest Story Ever ToldCaspar
1966The AppaloosaRamos
1967HombreMexican bandit
1967The St. Valentine’s Day MassacreNick Sorello
1968The Stalking MoonMajor
1968Up Tight!Kyle
1969Guns of the Magnificent SevenLobero
1969Che!Goatherd
1971Valdez Is ComingDiegoReleased posthumously
Television
YearTitleRoleNotes
1951-1957Studio One in HollywoodVarious roles2 episodes
1954The MarriageMr. RamonEpisode #1.1
1955Producers’ ShowcaseJudgeEpisode: “The Skin of Our Teeth”
1957The Seven Lively ArtsJohnEpisode: “The World of Nick Adams”
1958Wanted: Dead or AliveSheriff Will EchertEpisode: “Sheriff At Red Rock”
1958Playhouse 90Nick SerrelloEpisode: “Seven Against the Wall”
1958Perry MasonJonathan HyettEpisode: “The Case of the Fancy Figures”
1959Alfred Hitchcock PresentsMr. RoderiguezEpisode: “A Personal Matter”
1959Dick Powell’s Zane Grey TheaterYsidroEpisode: “Trouble at Tres Cruces”
1959DecoyAndrew GarciaEpisode: “Across the World”
1959Bat MastersonGrasiaEpisode: “The Romany Knives”
1959The LineupPapa VanettiEpisode: “My Son is a Stranger”
1959The Man From BlackhawkKiczekEpisode: “The Gypsy Story”
1960Johnny RingoBevinettoEpisode: “Shoot the Moon”
1960The Law and Mr. JonesGarciaEpisode: “Music to Hurt By”
1960ThrillerCesare Romano/Charlie RomanEpisode: “The Guilty Men”
1960Hong KongKivoriEpisode: “Freebooter”
1960The RebelCotaEpisode: “Deathwatch”
1960RiverboatColonel AshleyEpisode: “Devil in Skirts”
1960The UntouchablesDino PatroneEpisode: “A Seat on the Fence”
1961-1964BonanzaVarious roles2 episodes
1962The Twilight ZoneDr. KoslenkoEpisode: “Person or Persons Unknown
1962The New BreedJohn HernandezEpisode: “My Brother’s Keeper”
1962The BeachcomberVarious roles2 episodes
1962The Dick Powell ShowEpisode: “Borderline”
1963The DefendersBallinEpisode: “The Last Illusion”
1963The Travels of Jaimie McPheetersThe Indian, Speaks to the WindEpisode: “The Day of the Taboo Man”
1964The Great AdventureGambiEpisode: “The Pirate and the Patriot”
1964ChanningEpisode: “Memory of a Firing Squad”
1964The Alfred Hitchcock HourAlejandroEpisode: “The Life Work of Juan Diaz”
1964Mr. NovakAndy TownerEpisode: “Boy Under Glass”
1964-1965Kraft Suspense TheatreVarious roles2 episodes
1965Profiles in CourageEpisode: “Hamilton Fish”
1965Daniel BooneMarcel BouvierEpisode: “Daughter of the Devil”
1965RawhidePajaritoEpisode: “El Hombre Bravo”
1965GunsmokeJohn DragoEpisode: “Death Watch”
1966I SpyMunozEpisode: “Crusade to Limbo”
1966The Rat PatrolArab LeaderEpisode: “The Chain of Death Raid”
1966Run for Your LifeEstebanEpisode: “The Shock of Recognition”
1967Dundee and the CulhaneLuis MontoyaEpisode: “The Vasquez Brief”
1967The Wild Wild WestEl SordoEpisode: “The Night of Jack O’Diamonds”
1967-1970The High ChaparralDon Sebastian Montoya14 episodes
1968The Young LonerCarlosTelevision film
1968-1971The Wonderful World of DisneyCarlos4 episodes
1969Marcus Welby, M.D.Nick EugenidesEpisode: “The Vrahnas Demon”
1970The Flying NunThomas Sebastien MartinezEpisode: “No Tears for Mrs. Thomas”
1970Hawaii Five-OFrank KuakuaEpisode: “Paniolo”
1971The Boy from Dead Man’s BayouTelevision film
Aired posthumously
1976Perilous VoyageGen. SalazarTelevision film
Aired posthumously, (final film role)

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