Paul Robeson was an All-American multi-sport athlete and valedictorian of his class at Rutgers who worked his way through law school and earned a degree from Colombia.

Robeson began his theatrical career as a classical actor and concert singer. His version of Shakespeare's Othello is still considered a classic.

He could speak and sing six different languages.

His film career began in 1925 when he was cast in Body and Soul, a silent melodrama.

One of his most memorable films, was his powerful version of The Emperor Jones.

In the 1936 production of Showboat, he attempted to transcend the stereotypical roles assigned to black actors. His rendition of "Ole' Man River," has since become a classic scene in American musicals.

Robeson was a political activist who in the 1930's and 40's spoke out against British imperialism and human rights abuses in China and South Africa.

By 1937 his disillusionment with film roles was complete. The last straw for Robeson came in 1942 when he was cast in Tales of Manhattan, which presented blacks as naive, overreligious, singing dolts. Robeson said he would join any protest at its New York opening and vowed never to appear in another film.