Harry Belafonte
Birth Name:
Harold George Belafonte
Birth Place:
New York City, New York, United States
Profession
Soundtrack, Actor, Producer, Music department
Fast Facts
- Actively supported the Civil Rights Movement and Martin Luther King Jr․ during the 1950s, financing the Freedom Rides and helping organize the 1963 March on Washington
- Received the Bishop John T․ Walker Distinguished Humanitarian Service Award in 2001
- Serves as a Goodwill Ambassador for organization UNICEF
- Supports a number of charities and organizations including American Indian Empowerment Fund, Nuclear Age Peace Foundation and WhyHunger
- Pursued a career as an actor and singer after watching a performance by the American Negro Theater
- Best known for performing 1956's "The Banana Boat Song․"
- Known for introducing calypso and Caribbean styles of music in popular culture during the 1950s
- Became the first African-American man to receive an Emmy Award, which he earned for his performance in the 1959 TV special "Tonight with Belafonte․"
Awards
- 1960Primetime Emmy - Outstanding Performance in a Variety or Musical Program or Series:Winner
- 1996NYFCC Award - Best Supporting Actor:Winner
- 2006Hollywood Film Award - Ensemble of the Year:Winner
- 2007Actor - Outstanding Performance by a Cast in a Motion Picture:Nominated
- 2007Critics Choice Award - Best Acting Ensemble:Nominated
- 2007Image Award - Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Motion Picture:Nominated
- 2018IFJA Award - Best Ensemble Acting:Nominated
- 2019Actor - Outstanding Performance by a Cast in a Motion Picture:Nominated
- 2019CinEuphoria - Best Ensemble - International Competition:Nominated
- 2019OFTA Film Award - Best Ensemble:Nominated