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 Brock Peters Dies In recent years, he played Admiral Cartwright in two
of the "Star Trek" feature films. He also appeared in
numerous TV shows. His distinctive deep bass voice was the voice of Darth Vader in the Star Wars Radio Dramas
Brock Peters Dies
By GARY GENTILE, Associated Press Writer Tue Aug 23,
5:25 PM ET
LOS ANGELES - Actor
Brock Peters, best known for his heartbreaking
performance as the black man falsely accused of rape
in "To Kill a Mockingbird," died Tuesday at his home
after battling pancreatic cancer. He was 78.
Peters was diagnosed with the disease in January and
had been receiving chemotherapy treatment, according
to Marilyn Darby, his longtime companion. His
condition became worse in recent weeks.
He died peacefully in bed, surrounded by family, she
said.
Peters was born George Fisher on July 2, 1927 in New
York. His long film career began in the 1950s with the
landmark productions of "Carmen Jones" in 1954 and
"Porgy and Bess" in 1959.
In recent years, he played Admiral Cartwright in two
of the "Star Trek" feature films. He also appeared in
numerous TV shows. His distinctive deep bass voice was
often used for animated characters.
He was perhaps best known for portraying accused
rapist
Tom Robinson, defended by Gregory Peck's Atticus Finch
in the 1962 film "To Kill a Mockingbird."
Peters paid tribute to Peck after he died in 2003.
"In art there is compassion, in compassion there is
humanity, with humanity there is generosity and love,"
Peters said. "Gregory Peck gave us these attributes in
full measure."
Peters recounted how shortly before he was to start
filming, he was awakened early on a Sunday morning by
a phone call from Peck to welcome him to the
production. He was so surprised, he recalled, that he
dropped the telephone.
"I worked over the years in many, many productions,
but no one ever again called me to welcome me aboard,
except perhaps the director and the producer, but not
my fellow actor-to-be."
In May, Peters was on hand as Harper Lee, the
reclusive author of "To Kill a Mockingbird," made a
rare step into the limelight to be honored by the Los
Angeles Public Library.
In "Carmen Jones," Peters worked with Dorothy
Dandridge and
Harry Belafonte. Otto Preminger's production of
"Porgy" starred
Sidney Poitier and Dandridge, and featured
Sammy Davis Jr., Pearl Bailey and
Diahann Carroll as well as Peters.
Among Peters' other films were "Soylent Green," "The
L-Shaped Room" and "The Pawnbroker."
His accolades include a National Film Society Award, a
Life Achievement Award from the
Screen Actors Guild, and a Tony Award nomination for
his performance on Broadway in "Lost in the Stars."
In a 1985 story by The Associated Press on blacks in
the movies, Peters said there had been a string of
recent hits involving blacks, but "I have been here a
long time, and I have seen this cycle happen before.
I'll wait awhile and see if this flurry of activity
leads to anything permanent."
Peters was a widower and has one daughter, Lise Jo
Peters.
___
AP Writer Polly Anderson in New York contributed to
this report.
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