Harry Belafonte Dead at 96: Spike Lee, Oprah Winfrey and More Pay Tribute to Film Legend and Activist
etonline.comMartin Luther King Jr. (including speaking at the 1963 March on Washington) and other pivotal faces of the civil rights movement, standing up for migrant farmworkers, working in support of LGBTQ, or becoming a voice in South Africa’s anti-apartheid movement, Belafonte forged a strong commitment to activism.
In fact, in 1968, Belafonte became the first Black person to helm a late-night talk show when he hosted for a week. Johnny Carson turned the show over to Belafonte, allowing him a space to bring discussions on racism and civil rights protests to the forefront of American television.
The week's guests included MLK, Lena Horne and Bobby Kennedy. The historic hosting gig is explored in the documentary .The Emmy and Tony Award-winning actor's credits include Uptown Saturday Night, Island in the Sun, Odds Against Tomorrow, Carmen Jones, The World, Flesh and the Devil, White Man's Burden, and most recently, Spike Lee’s 2018 film, BlacKkKlansman.
In addition to his children, Adrienne Belafonte Biesemeyer, Shari Belafonte, Gina Belafonte, David Belafonte, and his two stepchildren, Sarah Frank and Lindsey Frank, he leaves behind eight grandchildren: Rachel Blue Biesemeyer, Brian Biesemeyer, Maria Belafonte McCray, Sarafina Belafonte, Amadeus Belafonte, Mateo Frank, Olive Scanga, and Zoe Frank.«It is with a heavy heart that we have said goodbye to our beloved dad, father-in-law, and grandpa, the beyond amazing Harry Belafonte.
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