Ralph Cooper (actor)
| Ralph Cooper | |
|---|---|
| Born | Ralph Cooper January 16, 1908 New York City, New York, U.S |
| Died | Error: Need valid death date (first date): year, month, day Harlem, New York, U.S |
Ralph Cooper (January 16, 1908 - August 4, 1992), was an American actor, dancer and the originator and master of ceremonies of Amateur Night at the Apollo Theater in Harlem, New York.
Biography
He was born on January 16, 1908 in New York City.[1] He worked as a dancer in small downtown clubs near New York University, which he attended for one semester. In 1935 he started the Apollo's Amateur Night which ran every Wednesday night. The Apollo closed in the 1970s, but the contest was restarted in 1985 after the renovations were completed. He was again the master of ceremonies. His son, Ralph Cooper 2nd, took over the show after his father was hospitalized with cancer.[2] He died on August 4, 1992.[3]
In 1937 he formed Million Dollar Productions[4] with black actor George Randol and white producers Harry Popkin and his brother Leo Popkin to produce race films that he often starred in, wrote, produced and directed.[5] Tino Balio has written that, "Million Dollar, more than any other company, moved black filmmaking away from a marginalized form towards the mainstream, advancing considerably its reputation and ability to attract audiences."[6]
External links
References
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- ↑ Social Security Death Index
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- ↑ IMDB uses the incorrect date of 4 April 1992
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