James Edwards (actor)
James Johnson Edwards ( born March 6, 1918 in Muncie, Indiana, † January 4, 1970 in San Diego, California ) was an American actor.
Life
Edwards served in World War II, where he was severely wounded in action. Among other things, his vocal cords were damaged, after which it was recommended by doctors elocution lessons as therapy. In the course of this action, he decided to become an actor.
First, he appeared at the theater, 1949, he got his first film role in the ring for Stoker Thompson. His next film was to be his most important. Producer Stanley Kramer cast him as the lead in the low-budget film Home of the Brave. The film was produced in silence to avoid race riots, since it was the first studio film in which an African American played the lead role. Edwards played Pvt. Peter Moss, who during a mission against Japan in World War II due to racist remarks of his comrades suffered a nervous breakdown. The film was an unexpected success, and Edwards was almost an overnight sensation. However, this should be his only starring role.
During the McCarthy era, he refused before the Committee on Un-American Activities against Paul Robeson testify. In the following decades, he appeared only in supporting roles and guest appearances in television series. Notable roles he played, among others, in Sam Fuller's war movie The Steel Helmet, in John Frankenheimer's The Manchurian Candidate and Franklin J. Schaffner's Patton - Rebell in uniform. Even before the premiere of the latter film Edwards died of a heart attack.
Edwards was married, from the marriage went a child.