Canada Lee

About

American jockey, boxer, and musician turned actor who helped pioneer roles for African Americans. He landed what may be his most remembered role as a sailor in the Alfred Hitchcock film Lifeboat.

Before Fame

Starting as concert violinist when he was only 12, he later tried his hand at boxing after growing too large to be a jockey and sported a career record in the rink of 38-36-10.

Trivia

With the Hollywood blacklist in full swing, he still managed to land a role alongside Sidney Poitier in Cry, The Beloved.

Family Life

He married first wife Juanita Waller in 1925 and they had a son named Carl Vincent Lee.

Associated With

He also had a career on the stage including a performance in the Lee Strasberg directed play South Pacific.