Percy Verwayen

Biography

Percy Verwayen is another unsung acting talent of stage and screen. In his time, he was considered the best of the Black actors. He never appeared in any Hollywood movies though he graced the Black Cinema screen many times with his exceptional acting and became one of the top leading men. His screen image and talent was in the same fashion of Edward G. Robinson, James Cagney, and Humphrey Bogart. He was a "bad boy" you love to hate, tough as nails, and he had a charm and magnetic attraction to him, but he was never too big to fall, and when he would he would beg and plea with his life like a true thespian. On stage or screen, he always gave a good show, he was a force to be reckoned with, appearing in top stage shows like, "Black Boy," "Porgy," "Singin The Blues," and other hits alongside legends like Paul Robeson. He was tough and confident and it always showed in his work, some say he had the temperament and drive of John Barrymore. Because of his light complexion and Spanish features he was turned down for many parts and not given the same opportunities as a black actor with more color in his skin like Paul Robeson.