23 Facts About Frank Silvera

Frank Alvin Silvera was a Jamaican-born American character actor and theatrical director.

Frank Silvera was nominated for a Best Actor Tony Award in 1963 for his role in The Lady of the Camellias.

Frank Silvera founded the Theatre of Being, a Los Angeles theatre for black actors, in 1965.

Frank Silvera was born in Kingston, Jamaica, the son of a mixed-race Jamaican mother, Gertrude Bell and Portuguese Jewish father, Alfred Frank Silvera.

Frank Silvera's family emigrated to the United States when he was six years old, settling in Boston.

Frank Silvera became interested in acting and began performing in amateur theatrical groups and at church.

Frank Silvera graduated from English High School of Boston and then studied at Boston University, followed by the Northeastern Law School.

Frank Silvera left Northeastern University Law School in 1934, when he was cast in Paul Green's production of Roll Sweet Chariot.

Frank Silvera next joined the New England Repertory Theatre where he appeared in productions of MacBeth, Othello and The Emperor Jones.

Frank Silvera worked at Federal Theatre and with the New Hampshire Repertory Theatre.

In 1940, Frank Silvera made his Broadway debut in a small role in Big White Fog.

Frank Silvera's career was interrupted in 1942, when he enlisted in the United States Navy during World War II.

Frank Silvera was assigned to Camp Robert Smalls, where he and Owen Dodson were in charge of entertainment.

Frank Silvera directed and acted in radio programs and appeared in USO shows.

In 1952, Frank Silvera made his film debut in the western, The Cimarron Kid.

Frank Silvera portrayed the role in the stage production, which opened at the Regent Theatre in New York City on February 28,1952.

Frank Silvera appeared in two films directed by Stanley Kubrick, Fear and Desire and Killer's Kiss.

Frank Silvera made guest appearances in numerous television series, mainly dramas and westerns, including Studio One in Hollywood, Alfred Hitchcock Presents, Bat Masterson, Thriller, Riverboat, The Travels of Jaimie McPheeters, The Untouchables, Gunsmoke, Perry Mason and Bonanza.

Frank Silvera was nominated for a Tony Award for Best Actor in a Play for playing Monsieur Duval in The Lady of the Camellias.

Frank Silvera continued his career in films and guest star roles on television.

Frank Silvera appeared as a Mexican bandit in the 1967 Martin Ritt-directed Western classic, Hombre, based on the Elmore Leonard novel.

At the time of his death, Frank Silvera had a recurring role in the NBC western series The High Chaparral as the Mexican squire, Don Sebastian Montoya.

Frank Silvera was killed on June 11,1970, after accidentally electrocuting himself while repairing a garbage disposal unit in his kitchen sink.