Errol John
Encyclopedia
Errol John was a Trinidadian actor and playwright.
Born in Trinidad
, he was home schooled then began his career as an artist and journalist. Deciding to pursue a career in acting, he joined the Whitehall Theatre Group
in Trinidad.
Following the Second World War, Errol moved to England in 1951 and continued to work in the theatre. He had several small roles in films and television. In 1953 he appeared in the film adaptation of The Heart of the Matter
, followed by parts in The Emperor Jones
(1953) and Simba
(1955). He gained a major role in A Man from the Sun (1955), followed by a significant role in Hiding Place. The five-part series Rainbow City
was written for him by John Elliott.
His first script written for a play was The Tout (1949), then his 1953 Moon on a Rainbow Shaw won the play of the year award from The Observer
. He was also the author of The Exiles, part of the BBC
Wednesday Play
series.
He attempted to join the US film industry, but was limited to minor roles in Assault on a Queen
(1966) and Buck and the Preacher
(1972). He died in Camden
, North London
.
Born in Trinidad
Trinidad
Trinidad is the larger and more populous of the two major islands and numerous landforms which make up the island nation of Trinidad and Tobago. It is the southernmost island in the Caribbean and lies just off the northeastern coast of Venezuela. With an area of it is also the fifth largest in...
, he was home schooled then began his career as an artist and journalist. Deciding to pursue a career in acting, he joined the Whitehall Theatre Group
in Trinidad.
Following the Second World War, Errol moved to England in 1951 and continued to work in the theatre. He had several small roles in films and television. In 1953 he appeared in the film adaptation of The Heart of the Matter
The Heart of the Matter
The Heart of the Matter , a novel by the English author Graham Greene, won the 1948 James Tait Black Memorial Prize for fiction. During World War II, Greene worked for the Secret Intelligence Service in Sierra Leone, the setting for his novel...
, followed by parts in The Emperor Jones
The Emperor Jones (1933 film)
The Emperor Jones is a 1933 film adaptation of the Eugene O'Neill play of the same title, directed by Dudley Murphy, featuring Paul Robeson, Dudley Digges, Frank H. Wilson, and Fredi Washington. The screenplay was written by DuBose Heyward and filmed at Kaufman Astoria Studios with the beach scene...
(1953) and Simba
Simba (film)
Simba is a 1955 British drama film directed by Brian Desmond Hurst and starring Dirk Bogarde, Donald Sinden, Virginia McKenna and Basil Sydney...
(1955). He gained a major role in A Man from the Sun (1955), followed by a significant role in Hiding Place. The five-part series Rainbow City
Rainbow City (TV series)
Rainbow City is a British television series made by the BBC and shown in 1967.The series is notable for being the first British TV series to feature a black actor, Errol John, playing the lead character. John starred as John Steele, a black solicitor and the series dealt with his personal and...
was written for him by John Elliott.
His first script written for a play was The Tout (1949), then his 1953 Moon on a Rainbow Shaw won the play of the year award from The Observer
The Observer
The Observer is a British newspaper, published on Sundays. In the same place on the political spectrum as its daily sister paper The Guardian, which acquired it in 1993, it takes a liberal or social democratic line on most issues. It is the world's oldest Sunday newspaper.-Origins:The first issue,...
. He was also the author of The Exiles, part of the BBC
BBC
The British Broadcasting Corporation is a British public service broadcaster. Its headquarters is at Broadcasting House in the City of Westminster, London. It is the largest broadcaster in the world, with about 23,000 staff...
Wednesday Play
The Wednesday Play
The Wednesday Play was an anthology series of British television plays which ran on BBC1 from October 1964 to May 1970. Every week's play was usually written for television, although adaptations from other sources also featured...
series.
He attempted to join the US film industry, but was limited to minor roles in Assault on a Queen
Assault on a Queen
Assault on a Queen is a 1966 American action-adventure film, directed by Jack Donohue, starring Frank Sinatra and Italian beauty Virna Lisi. Based on a 1959 novel by Jack Finney, it was adapted for the screen by Rod Serling and released by Paramount Pictures on June 15, 1966.-Plot summary:A World...
(1966) and Buck and the Preacher
Buck and the Preacher
Buck and the Preacher is a 1972 American Western film starring Sidney Poitier as Buck and Harry Belafonte as the Preacher. Buck is a trail guide leading groups of former slaves trying to homestead in the West, immediately after the American Civil War. The Preacher is a swindling minister of the...
(1972). He died in Camden
London Borough of Camden
In 1801, the civil parishes that form the modern borough were already developed and had a total population of 96,795. This continued to rise swiftly throughout the 19th century, as the district became built up; reaching 270,197 in the middle of the century...
, North London
North London
North London is the northern part of London, England. It is an imprecise description and the area it covers is defined differently for a range of purposes. Common to these definitions is that it includes districts located north of the River Thames and is used in comparison with South...
.
Selected filmography
- The Heart of the MatterThe Heart of the Matter (film)The Heart of the Matter is a 1953 British film based on the book of the same name by Graham Greene. It was directed by George More O'Ferrall for London Films. It was entered into the 1953 Cannes Film Festival.-Plot, cast and production:...
(1953) - SimbaSimba (film)Simba is a 1955 British drama film directed by Brian Desmond Hurst and starring Dirk Bogarde, Donald Sinden, Virginia McKenna and Basil Sydney...
(1955) - OdongoOdongoOdongo is a 1956 British drama film directed by John Gilling and starring Rhonda Fleming, Macdonald Carey and Juma. In Kenya a hunter falls in love with a vet.-Partial cast:* Rhonda Fleming - Pamela Muir* Macdonald Carey - Steve Stratton* Juma - Odongo...
(1956) - The Nun's StoryThe Nun's Story (film)The Nun's Story is a 1959 Warner Brothers film directed by Fred Zinnemann and starring Audrey Hepburn. Based upon the 1956 novel of the same title by Kathryn Hulme, the story tells of the life of Sister Luke , a young Belgian woman who decides to enter a convent and make the many sacrifices...
(1959) - The Sins of Rachel CadeThe Sins of Rachel CadeThe Sins of Rachel Cade is a 1961 drama film starring Angie Dickinson in the title role as well as Peter Finch and Roger Moore.-Plot:During World War II, Protestant medical missionary Rachel comes to the village of Dibela in the Belgian Congo. Widowed military administrator Colonel Derode is...
(1961) - PT 109PT 109 (film)PT 109 is a 1963 biographical film which depicts the actions of John F. Kennedy in command of Motor Torpedo Boat PT-109 as an officer of the United States Navy during World War II. The movie was adapted by Vincent Flaherty and Howard Sheehan from the book PT 109: John F. Kennedy in World War II by...
(1963) - Man in the MiddleMan in the Middle (film)Man in the Middle is a 1963 film, starring Robert Mitchum and directed by Guy Hamilton. The movie, set in World War II India, tells the story of the murder trial of an American Army officer who killed a British soldier. Mitchum plays Lieut. Col. Barney Adams, who has been assigned as the accused...
(1963) - Guns at BatasiGuns at BatasiGuns at Batasi is a 1964 drama film starring Richard Attenborough, Jack Hawkins, Flora Robson, John Leyton and Mia Farrow. It is set in an overseas colonial military outpost during the last days of the British Empire in East Africa....
(1964) - Assault on a QueenAssault on a QueenAssault on a Queen is a 1966 American action-adventure film, directed by Jack Donohue, starring Frank Sinatra and Italian beauty Virna Lisi. Based on a 1959 novel by Jack Finney, it was adapted for the screen by Rod Serling and released by Paramount Pictures on June 15, 1966.-Plot summary:A World...
(1966) - Buck and the PreacherBuck and the PreacherBuck and the Preacher is a 1972 American Western film starring Sidney Poitier as Buck and Harry Belafonte as the Preacher. Buck is a trail guide leading groups of former slaves trying to homestead in the West, immediately after the American Civil War. The Preacher is a swindling minister of the...
(1972) - SheenaSheena (film)Sheena is a 1984 Columbia Pictures film based on a comic-book character that first appeared in the late 1930s, Sheena, Queen of the Jungle.A hybrid of action-adventure and soap opera-style drama, Sheena was shot on location in Kenya...
(1984)