Leonard Graves

American actor and singer
Leonard Graves
Born1927
Memphis, Tennessee, U.S.
DiedJanuary 25, 2000
Alma materJuilliard School
OccupationActor
SpouseMeryl Graves
Children4 sons

Leonard Graves (1927-2000) was an American actor and singer best known for narrating the 1952 television documentary Victory at Sea. Graves was the only voice on the 26-part series,[1] which won multiple awards, including a 1954 Emmy for Best Public Affairs Program,[2] a special Peabody award[3] and the Freedoms Foundation's George Washington Medal.[4]

Graves was born in Memphis, Tennessee in 1927 and began his performing career in radio. He joined the Broadway cast of The King and I as the Interpreter and also understudied for Yul Brynner as the King, filling in on many occasions. Graves took over the lead when Brynner left the show, and after a two-year run on Broadway, he joined a national tour.[5]

Graves appeared in several motion pictures, including:[6]

  • Three Brave Men (1956) as Flaxman (uncredited)
  • The Joker Is Wild (1957) as Tim Coogan
  • The Brothers Karamazov (1958) as Third Court Officer (uncredited)
  • The Buccaneer (1958) as Chighizola
  • Pork Chop Hill (1959) as Lt. Cook
  • A Private's Affair (1959) as General's Aide (uncredited)
  • Pay or Die (1960) as Opera Singer (uncredited)
  • The Story of Ruth (1960) as Reaper (uncredited)
  • A Message from the Future (שדר מן העתיד) (1981) as Anderson[7] (final film role)

Graves also had guest roles in a number of television series[8] including Navy Log and The Big Picture (Army In Action episodes).[9] In 1968 he was appointed manager of the Memphis Opera Theater.[5] Graves later moved to Israel with his wife where he was active in the Israel National Opera. He reportedly died circa 2000.[10][11]

References

  1. ^ Mattheisen, Donald J. (February 1992). "Persuasive History: A Critical Comparison of Television's Victory at Sea and The World at War". The History Teacher. 25 (2). Society for History Education: 239–251. doi:10.2307/494277. JSTOR 494277.
  2. ^ Emmy awards —Victory at Sea
  3. ^ IMDB award page for Victory at Sea
  4. ^ Rollins, Peter C. (1973). "Victory at Sea: Cold War Epic". The Journal of Popular Culture. VI (3): 463–482. doi:10.1111/j.0022-3840.1973.0603_463.x.
  5. ^ a b Ask Vance: Leonard Graves, Vance Lauderdale, Memphis Magazine, January 11, 2018
  6. ^ Rotten Tomato biography
  7. ^ A Message from the Future, Full Cast and Crew IMDB
  8. ^ IMDB filmography for Leonard Graves
  9. ^ Army Pictorial Center website
  10. ^ Kauai and Victory at Sea, Hank Soboleski, The Garden Island, August 11, 2019
  11. ^ An update on Memphis Singer and Actor Leonard Graves, Vance Lauderdale, Memphis Magazine, January 31, 2018