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Contact Info
Home Town Born in Kingston Jamaica, raised in Boston.
Last Address New York City
Date of Passing Jun 11, 1970
Location of Interment Long Island National Cemetery (VA) - Farmingdale, New York
Frank Alvin Silvera (July 24, 1914 - June 11, 1970) was a Jamaican-born American character actor and theatrical director. Silvera was known as "the man with a thousand faces" because of his ability to play a wide array of roles.
Born in Kingston, Jamaica and raised in Boston, Silvera dropped out of law school in 1934 after winning his first stage role. During the 1930s and 1940s, he was active in numerous stage productions on and off Broadway and appeared in radio shows. Silvera made his film debut in 1952. Over the course of his 36-year career, he was cast in a wide variety of ethnic roles in film and television. Silvera also remained active onstage. Silvera was nominated for a Best Actor Tony Award in 1963 for his role in The Lady of the Camellias. He founded The Theatre of Being, a Los Angeles theatre for black actors, in 1965. At the time of his death he had a recurring role in the NBC Western series The High Chaparral.
Silvera was born in Kingston, Jamaica, the son of a Spanish Jewish father and a mixed-race Jamaican mother. His family emigrated to the United States when he was six-years old, settling in Boston. Silvera became interested in acting and began performing in amateur theatrical groups and at church.
He graduated from English High School of Boston, and then studied at Boston University, followed by the Northeastern Law School.
Silvera left Northeastern Law School in 1934, when he was cast in Paul Green's production of Roll Sweet Chariot. He next joined the New England Repertory, Theatre where he appeared in productions of MacBeth, Othello, and The Emperor Jones. He also worked at Federal Theatre and with the New Hampshire Repertory Theatre. In 1940, Silvera made his Broadway debut in a small role in Big White Fog.
His career was interrupted in 1942, when he enlisted in the United States Navy during World War II. He was assigned to Camp Robert Smalls, where he and Owen Dodson were in charge of entertainment. Silvera directed and acted in radio programs and appeared in USO shows. Camp Robert Smalls was the segregated training camp for black recruits at the Great Lakes Naval Training Center, Great Lakes, Illinois. He was honorably discharged at the war's end in 1945. He joined the cast of Anna Lucasta and became a member of the Actors Studio.
Frank Silvera died in an accident at home on June 11, 1970. Silvera was accidentally electrocuted at the age of 56. He was buried with military honors at Long Island National Cemetery in Farmingdale, New York.
Legacy
In 1973, Silvera and his efforts to support African-American actors and playwrights were honored with the co-founding of the Frank Silvera Writers' Workshop Foundation, Inc. The organization sponsors promising African-American playwrights. In 2005, the workshop was among 406 New York City arts and social service institutions to receive part of a $20 million grant from the Carnegie Corporation, which was made possible through a donation by New York City mayor, Michael Bloomberg.
1943-1945, Sp(S), Camp Robert Smalls, Naval Station (NAVSTA) Great Lakes, IL
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Frank Silvera's career was interrupted in 1942, when he enlisted in the United States Navy during World War II. He was assigned to Camp Robert Smalls, where he and Owen Dodson were in charge of entertainment. Silvera directed and acted in radio programs and appeared in USO shows. Camp Robert Smalls was the segregated training camp for black recruits at the Great Lakes Naval Training Center, Great Lakes, Illinois. He was honorably discharged at the war's end in 1945 with the rank/rate of BMA 2/c (Boatswain's Mate Master-at-Arms, Petty Officer Second Class).
