Rupert Crosse

Rupert Crosse was born on Nov 29, 1927 in USA. Rupert Crosse's big-screen debut came with Shadows directed by John Cassavetes in 1958, strarring Rupert. Rupert Crosse is known for Marnie directed by Alfred Hitchcock, Tippi Hedren stars as Marnie Edgar Rutland and Martin Gabel as Sidney Strutt. The upcoming new movie Rupert Crosse plays is The Reivers which will be released on Dec 25, 1969.

Rupert Crosse was an African-American actor. In 1969, Crosse was the first African American to receive a nomination for the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor.Crosse was born in New York City, but was raised on the island of Nevis by his grandparents. Nevis is one of the Leeward Islands of the Caribbean Sea. It was a British colony until 1967, when it became one of the West Indies Associated States.Crosse returned to the United States in order to serve in the United States Army. Following his military service, he was educated at Bloomfield College in Bloomfield, New Jersey. He studied acting under John Cassavetes, and made his film debut in the Cassavetes' directed film Shadows (1958). He played the manager Rupert. Crosse was 31-years-old at the time of his film debut.Crosse appeared regularly in guest star roles in television throughout the 1960s. His next film was Cassavetes' La ballade des sans-espoirs (1961), about the life of a struggling jazz band. Crosse played bit parts in the legal drama Le motel du crime (1963), the political drama Que le meilleur l'emporte (1964), and the psychological thriller Pas de printemps pour Marnie (1964). He had a more substantial part as a hobo in the romance film Graine sauvage (1965).Crosse next played Indian Joe in the western film L'ouragan de la vengeance (1966). He befriended the film's leading actor, Jack Nicholson. Crosse had a minor role in another western: L'or des pistoleros (1967), a comic remake of Le Bon, la brute, le truand (1966). His next role was that of character Ned McCaslin in the coming-of-age film Les reivers (1969). The film was an adaptation of the novel "The Reivers, a Reminiscence" (1962) by William Faulkner, and depicts a group of car thieves who take a brand new 1905 Winton Flyer for a joyride. Crosse was nominated for the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor for this role, but the award was instead won by rival actor Gig Young (1913-1978).Crosse played mostly television roles in the 1970s. He played Detective George Robinson in the television film Confessions of a Top Crime Buster (1971). He was next cast as Robinson again in the sitcom The Partners (1971), which lasted 20 episodes. The sitcom depicted Robinson as one of a duo of bumbling detectives. Crosse was depicted as a Korean War veteran, and more observant of his surroundings than his partner Lennie Crooke (played by Don Adams). The sitcom was canceled due to low ratings, failing to compete against rival sitcom "All in the Family" (1971-1979).Crosse was suffering from lung cancer in 1973, and was forced to decline further roles. He returned to Nevis, where he soon died. He was survived by his wife Chris Calloway, and his only son Rupert Osaze Dia Crosse. Their son died in 2002 from a heart condition, and Chris died in 2008 from breast cancer.