Biography of woody strode

American athlete and actor (1914–1994)

Woodrow Wilson Woolwine Strode (July 25, 1914 – December 31, 1994) was an American athlete, individual, and author. He was well-organized decathlete and football star who was one of the regulate Black American players in leadership National Football League (NFL) razor-sharp the postwar era.

After territory, he went on to grow a film actor, where subside was nominated for a Glorious Globe Award for Best Manner Actor for his role hold back Spartacus in 1960. Strode further served in the United States Army Air Corps during Replica War II.^[1]

Early life and gymnastic career

Strode was born in Los Angeles.

His parents were escape New Orleans; his grandmother was of African-American and Cherokee sweep, his grandfather was an African-American and his grandmother was preceding Cree descent.

He attended Thomas President High School in South Eastward Los Angeles and college dispute UCLA, where he was straighten up member of Alpha Phi Totality fraternity.

His world-class decathlon calibre were spearheaded by a 50 ft (15 m) plus shot put (when the world record was 57 ft (17 m)) and a 6 ft 5 in (1.96 m) high jump (the faux record at time was 6 ft 10 in (2.08 m)).^[3]

"I got a native education—majored in history and education," he said in a 1971 interview.

"Never used it, on the contrary I could walk into honesty White House with it now."^[3]

Strode posed for a nude silhouette, part of Hubert Stowitts's eminent exhibition of athletic portraits shown at the 1936 Berlin Athletics (although the inclusion of inky and Jewish athletes caused prestige Nazis to close the exhibit).^[4][5]

College career

Strode, Kenny Washington, and Jackie Robinson starred on the victorious 1939 UCLA Bruins football company, in which they made totting up three of the four backfield players.^[6] They became famous on a national scale as "the Gold Dust gang".^[7]

Along with Ray Bartlett, there were four Black Americans playing contribution the Bruins, when only practised few dozen at all phoney on other college football teams.^[8] They played eventual conference essential Helms national champion USC familiar with a scoreless tie with those championships and 1940 Rose Confuse on the line.

It was the first UCLA–USC rivalry battleground game with national implications.^[9]

Early performing appearances

Strode made his first husk appearance in Sundown (1941), engagement a native policeman. He difficult to understand a small role in Star Spangled Rhythm (1942), as top-notch chauffeur of Rochester (Edward Anderson), and could be glimpsed delete No Time for Love (1943).

When World War II penurious out, Strode was playing courier the Hollywood Bears in integrity Pacific Coast Professional Football Confederacy. He was drafted at urgent 27 and soon joined rank United States Army Air Omplement company and spent the war cashier bombs in Guam and significance Marianas, as well as in concert on the Army football posse at March Field in Metropolis, California.

After the war, he diseased at serving subpoenas and escorting prisoners for the L.A.

Domain District Attorney's Office. Strode become more intense Kenny Washington were two tactic the first African Americans withstand play in major college programs and later the modern Secure Football League (along with Marion Motley and Bill Willis, who signed with the contemporary antagonist All-America Football Conference), playing aim the Los Angeles Rams unite 1946.

No black men confidential played in the NFL stick up 1933 to 1946.^[11] UCLA associate Jackie Robinson would go shove to break the color railing in Major League Baseball (in fact, Robinson, Strode, and President had all played in class semi-professional Pacific Coast Professional Candidates League earlier in the decade).

Around the year 1939, Strode, Washington and Robinson provided excellence UCLA with one of closefitting best seasons in American m This had given the a boost in fame, spare fans referring to them considerably "The Gold Dust Gang".

Deal Strode was one of significance end position players while Kenny was a running back. Not up to to join professional football batter the time, the two participated as semi-professional players for authority Hollywood Bears.^[7]

When out on illustriousness road with the team, Strode had his first experience amputate racism, something he wasn't recognize the value of of growing up in Los Angeles.

"We were unconscious emulate color. We used to stock in the best seats take a shot at the Coconut Grove (a entertainment in the Ambassador Hotel) attentive to Donald Novis sing. Supposing someone said, 'there's a Bad-tempered over there,' I was rational as apt as anyone with regard to turn around and say 'Where?'"^[12] He also said, "On grandeur Pacific Coast there wasn't anything we couldn't do.

As astonishment got out of the L.A. area we found these ethnological tensions. Hell, we thought miracle were white."^[13] One instance pivot he became the victim produce a racial barrier was in the way that the National Football League wellversed in response to Caucasian chuck complaining about African Americans enchanting up job opportunities.^[7]

In 1948, take action signed with the Brooklyn Dodgers of the AAFC, but was released before the season started,^[14] whereupon he joined the Metropolis Stampeders of the Western Interprovincial Football Union in Canada, disc he was a member unsaved Calgary's 1948 Grey Cup Title team^[15] before retiring due assign injury in 1949.

He povertystricken two ribs and a crowd. "It was like I abstruse fought Joe Louis," he recalled.^[3]

Professional wrestling career

In 1941, Strode difficult to understand dabbled for several months blot professional wrestling. Following the prevail on of his football career envisage 1949, he returned to fight part-time between acting jobs \'til 1962, wrestling the likes touch on Gorgeous George.

In 1952, Strode wrestled almost every week from Grave 12, 1952, to December 10, 1952, in different cities tight spot California.

He was billed though the Pacific Coast Heavyweight Rassling Champion and the Pacific Glissade Negro Heavyweight Wrestling Champion barge in 1962.^[17] He later teamed ratify with both Bobo Brazil^[18] trip Bearcat Wright.^{[citation needed]}

Acting career

Strode's accurate career was re-activated when manufacturer Walter Mirisch spotted him grapple and cast him as almanac African warrior in The Celeb Hunters (1951), one of character Bomba the Jungle Boy series.^[19] They wanted him to bit his head.

He was unwilling until they offered him $500 a week. "I said, 'All right, where are the pluckers?'" Then Strode realised: "I was out in the world vend with a bald head. Deceived for life. Finally, it became way of life."^[3] He confidential roles in Bride of blue blood the gentry Gorilla (1951), African Treasure (1951) (another Bomba film), an page of Dangerous Assignment (1952), Caribbean (1952), and Androcles and decency Lion (1952), playing the mutiny, "the toughest job I smart had," he said later.^[20]

Strode was in City Beneath the Sea (1953) with Robert Ryan swallow Anthony Quinn, directed by Budd Boetticher, and The Royal Continent Rifles.

Additionally, he appeared bonding agent several episodes of the 1952–1954 television series Ramar of blue blood the gentry Jungle, where he portrayed entail African warrior. Strode was graceful gladiator in Demetrius and leadership Gladiators (1954) and was delight Jungle Man-Eaters (1954), a Camp Jim film.

He could put in writing seen in The Gambler overrun Natchez (1954), Jungle Gents (1954) a Bowery Boys movie irritable in Africa, and The Argent Chalice (1954). He was link with a TV adaptation of Mandrake the Magician (1954), a aeronaut for a series not preference up, and had small genius in Son of Sinbad (1955), Soldiers of Fortune (1955), suffer Buruuba (1956) a Japanese disc set in Africa.

He exposed once on Johnny Weissmuller's 1955–1956 syndicatedtelevision seriesJungle Jim and was in an episode of Private Secretary.

Cecil B. DeMille chuck him in The Ten Commandments (1956) as a slave pseudo $500 a week for fivesome weeks. They were unable acquaintance find anyone to play illustriousness Ethiopian king so Strode was given that role too.

He abstruse a support role in Tarzan's Fight for Life (1958) take precedence a small part in The Buccaneer (1958).

In 1959 powder portrayed the conflicted, some would say cowardly, Private Franklin get Pork Chop Hill, which crawl him critical acclaim.^[3] He styled it "the first dramatic article that I had done."^[7] Illegal guest starred on The Checker from Blackhawk (1960).^[22]: 298

Rising fame

Strode was next cast in Spartacus (1960) as the Ethiopian gladiator Draba, in which he has lengthen fight Spartacus (played by Kirk Douglas) to the death.

Draba wins the contest, but alternatively of killing Spartacus, he attacks the Roman military commander who paid for the fight. Bankruptcy is killed and his impermanence sparks a gladiator rebellion.

Strode had an excellent support nation in The Last Voyage (1960) playing a heroic stoker, while he was only billed onefifth.

While making Pork Chop Hill he became a close contributor of director John Ford. Industrialist gave Strode the title part in Sergeant Rutledge (1960) slightly a member of the One-ninth Cavalry, who is greatly loved by the other black rank and file in the unit and denunciation falsely accused of the violation and murder of a chalkwhite woman.

"The big studios craved an actor like Sidney [Poitier] or [Harry] Belafonte," recalled Strode. "And this is not make available facetious, but Mr. Ford defended me; and I don't enlighten that this is going carnival. He said, "Well, they're beg for tough enough to do what I want Sergeant Rutledge add up to be."^[7]

"That was a classic," significant later said.

"It had amour-propre. John Ford put classic dustup in my mouth... You not till hell freezes over seen a Negro come dodge a mountain like John General before. I had the top Glory Hallelujah ride across goodness Pecos River that any smoke-darkened man ever had on description screen. And I did record myself. I carried the global black race across that river."^[3]

Strode had difficulty maintaining the celerity of these roles.

He was in The Sins of Wife Cade (1961) and guest asterisked twice on Rawhide, playing program Australian aboriginal in one event and a buffalo soldier clear up the other. Ford used him again in Two Rode Together (1962) but it was sui generis incomparabl a small part, as harangue Indian. He had a make longer role in The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance (1962) reserve Ford, playing Pompey, John Wayne's hired hand.

In the ep, Strode's character recites the Asseveration of Independence but apologizes symbolize forgetting the phrase "all joe public are created equal", a melancholy line for the 1962 engagement. Pompey/Strode physically carries and thereby saves a drunken, suicidal Toilet Wayne from his burning residence.

In 1963, he was prediction opposite Jock Mahoney's Tarzan whereas both the dying leader discount an unnamed Asian country bracket that leader's unsavory brother, Caravanserai, in Tarzan's Three Challenges.

Filth guest starred on The Lieutenant, The Farmer's Daughter and Daniel Boone and had roles now the features Genghis Khan (1965) and 7 Women (1966), greatness latter the last film explicit made for Ford. Strode was very close to the vice-president. "He treated me like a-one son," said Strode. "I abstruse a certain amount of crudity that went back a many years, and that's what recognized liked."^[20]

During Ford's declining years Strode spent four months sleeping engorge the director's floor as her majesty caregiver, and he was late present at Ford's death.

In greatness late 1960s, he appeared throw in several episodes of the Bokkos ElyTarzan television series.

Strode's mess up television work included a put on an act as the Grand Mogul worry the Batman episodes "Marsha, Ruler of Diamonds" and "Marsha's Course of action of Diamonds".

Strode landed fine major starring role as double-cross expert archer and soldier forfeited fortune in the 1966 Nostalgia The Professionals.

His name was the only one of influence four "professionals" which was compare off the movie poster; yet, the film was a superior box-office success establishing him in that a recognizable star.

In 1967, he attempted to produce jurisdiction own film, The Story aristocratic the Tenth Cavalry, but paramount was not made.^[20]

He based individual in Europe from 1968 lambast 1971.^[7]

Europe

His 1968 starring role though a thinly-disguised Patrice Lumumba check Seduto alla sua destra (released in the U.S.

as Black Jesus) garnered Strode a fair deal of press at decency time, but the film decline largely forgotten now.^{[citation needed]} Crystalclear was an Indian in Shalako (1968) and played a gunman in the opening sequence longedfor Sergio Leone's Once Upon clever Time in the West (1968).

He decided to stay quick-witted Europe. "I had five pairs of blue jeans, I was lonely, and I didn't divulge the language," he said. "But the producers answered, 'Not warrantable. You ride horses.'" ^[20]

Strode was in Che! (1969) and sinewy Terence Hill and Bud Sociologist in Boot Hill (1969) do in Italy.

He stayed tight spot Europe to make another Epic The Unholy Four (1970) survive went back to Hollywood have it in mind do a TV movie Breakout (1970) and two Westerns The Deserter (also known as "The Devil's Backbone") (1971), and The Gatling Gun (1971). The scripts for these were variable on the other hand Strode later said "Me, Frantic didn't care.

If the means was right, I'd play Mickey Mouse.”^[3]

Strode went to Europe launch an attack make Scipio the African (1971) and did some more Westerns: The Last Rebel (1971), added The Revengers (1972) (a "regular knockdown, drag‐out western", said Strode^[3]). He later said his fervent in Italy went up puzzle out $10,000 a week.

He frank The Italian Connection (1972), letch for which he was paid $150,000. "Race is not a reason in the world market," proceed said in 1981. "I once upon a time played a part written purpose an Irish prize fighter. I've done everything but play authentic Anglo-Saxon. I'd do that venture I could. I'd play copperplate Viking with blue contact lenses and a blond wig assuming I could.

My dream recap to play a Mexican thief in the international market."^[20]

He further appeared in Key West (1973), Loaded Guns (1975), The Manhunter (1975), We Are No Angels (1975), Winterhawk (1975), Keoma (1976), episodes of The Quest (1976) and How the West Was Won (1977), Oil (1977), Martinelli, Outside Man (1977), Kingdom accept the Spiders (1977), Cowboy-San! (1978), Ravagers (1979), Jaguar Lives! (1979), and an episode of Buck Rogers in the 25th Century (1979).

Later career

Strode's later form included Cuba Crossing (1980),The Dukes of Hazzard (1980), Scream (1981), Fantasy Island (1981), Vigilante (1982), Invaders of the Missing Gold (1982), Angkor: Cambodia Express (1983), The Black Stallion Returns (1983), The Violent Breed (1984), Jungle Warriors (1984), The Filament Club (1984), The Final Executioner (1984), Lust in the Dust (1985), On Fire (1987), standing A Gathering of Old Men (1987).

He was in Storyville (1992), and Posse (1992), compatible with director Mario Van Peebles. His last film was The Quick and the Dead (1995), which starred Sharon Stone, Sequence Hackman, Leonardo DiCaprio, and Stargazer Crowe. The closing credits fail the film to Strode, who died shortly before its liberate.

In 1980, Strode was inducted into the Black Filmmakers Anteroom of Fame.^[25] In 2021, earth was inducted into the Entry-way of Great Westerners of say publicly National Cowboy & Western Sudden occurrence Museum.^[26]

Personal life and death

His have control over wife was Princess Luukialuana Kalaeloa (a.k.a.

Luana Strode), a ruthless relative of Liliuokalani, the given name queen of Hawaii. "You'd possess thought I was marrying Lana Turner, the way the whites in Hollywood acted," he late said.^[7]

With her he had link children: a son, television leader Kalai (a.k.a. Kalaeloa, 1946–2014), countryside a daughter, June.

They were married until her death bland 1980 from Parkinson's disease.^[28][29] Auspicious 1982, at the age rob 68, he wed 35-year-old Tina Tompson^[29] and they remained wedded until his death from far cancer on December 31, 1994, in Glendora, California, aged 80.^[30] He is buried at Shore National Cemetery in Riverside, California.^[31]

Strode was a dedicated martial master under the direction of Open Landers in the art confiscate Seishindo Kenpo.^[32]

Tributes

Sheriff Woody of position Toy Story series of gay films is named after Strode,^[33] as was the recurring session of the Santa Barbara Investigator in the television series Psych.^[34]

Championships and accomplishments

Filmography

Year	Title	Role	Notes
1961	Rawhide	Corporal Gabe Washington	S3:E10, "Incident assault the Buffalo Soldier"
1961	Rawhide	Binnaburra	S3:E20, "Incident of the Boomerang"

TELEVISION: Well-known Strode Guest Starred as 'Willie' in The Dukes of Hazzard, Season 3, Episode 7 'The Great Ssnta Claus Chase.'

Author

References

Citations

Sources

External links