Norman Astwood

Handsome Norman Astwood was a talented actor and singer from the 1920s to the early 1940s. He also became a leading actor of the race film genre (Black Cinema) in the late 1930s and early 1940s. Norman Astwood was born in the British West Indies and was educated at Wolmer's. He was a Jamaican who grew up in Kingston, Jamaica, and in 1912, he and his family was one of millions who immigrated to America through the legendary Ellis Island. Norman was furthered educated at the City College in New York. When the first world war broke out Norman enlisted and served as an aviator in the British Army, being commissioned as Leuitantant. In the 1920s, Norman returned to the United States after the war and launched his career as an actor, singer, and overall entertainer on stage, radio, and later screen. Norman earned his first success in one of the first popular black Broadway musical comedies "Blackbirds of 1926." In 1929, Norman went to England with the Lew Leslie Blackbirds revue which had a highly successful run in London. Singing was another one of Norman's talents, he sung at various popular venues and on the radio in the 1930s, awing audiences with his dynamic and heartfelt singing. In 1935, Norman appeared as master of ceremonies in the Universal film short "Harlem Bound" and he sung the emotional "Machinery." Norman attained screen success as an actor (when he was in his late 30's) in race films a.k.a Black Cinema films, "Paradise In Harlem," "Sunday Sinners" and "Murder on Lenox Avenue": these were the best films of the genre partly because of Norman's dominating presence and talent. Race films were the only films Norman could display his talent since he was too light and not the Stepin Fetchit type to appear in Hollywood films. In only three films Norman showed more acting skills then most in numerous films; his naturalness, convincingness, great knack for timing, and powerful presence and strong voice brought his characters alive always giving a pleasing, complimentary performance. Norman usually portrayed tough, intimidating, macho types and played them perfectly. He played men you love to hate but he added charm, magnetic appeal, and his rugged good looks that drew audiences to him and made him attractive. He was the Clark Gable of race films. To add to his image he had a distinct accented voice that he became very known for. When not acting, throughout the 1930s and 1940s, Norman entertained at various premier nightclubs and theaters like the famed Apollo theater. In World War II, Norman served as a captain in the U.S. Army and he still performed during the war but retired from show business before the war ended.