Legendary singer, actor and activist Harry Belafonte died on April 25 at his home in Manhattan, his spokesman confirmed to the New York Times. He was 96.
Belafonte was born in Harlem in 1927. He made his breakthrough as a singer in the 1950s, bringing Calypso-style music to a wide audience. He also began acting in that decade, appearing alongside Dorothy Dandridge, Joan Collins and other Golden Age Hollywood stars.
Most importantly, Belafonte was a vocal supporter of the civil rights movement throughout the 1950s and 60s, and was a friend of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Belafonte used his Hollywood money to financially support aspects of the movement as well as his Hollywood. contacts to raise more money when needed. He would provide bail to get activists out of prison, often host King in his Manhattan apartment, and take part in March in Washington in 1963. He also helped support the King family. after the assassination.
Belafonte continued to advocate progressive values throughout his life. He is active in the anti-apartheid movement, voicing criticism of the Iraq War, and was the Grand Marshal of the New York City Pride Parade in 2013. In 2018, Belafonte appeared in “BlacKkKlansman” by Spike Lee as a civil rights leader.
A spokesperson for Belafonte told the Times the star died of congestive heart failure.
