William Horace Marshall (19 August 1924 – 11 June 2003) was an American actor, director, and opera singer. He is best known for his title role in the 1972 blaxploitation classic Blacula and its sequel Scream Blacula Scream (1973), and as the "King of Cartoons" on the 1980s television show Pee-wee's Playhouse beginning with its second season. He had a commanding height of 6 ft 5 in (1.96 m), as well as a deep bass voice.
Marshall was born in Gary,...
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William Horace Marshall (19 August 1924 – 11 June 2003) was an American actor, director, and opera singer. He is best known for his title role in the 1972 blaxploitation classic Blacula and its sequel Scream Blacula Scream (1973), and as the "King of Cartoons" on the 1980s television show Pee-wee's Playhouse beginning with its second season. He had a commanding height of 6 ft 5 in (1.96 m), as well as a deep bass voice.
Marshall was born in Gary, Indiana, the son of Thelma (née Edwards) and Vereen Marshall, who was a dentist. After graduation from Governors State University, he attended New York University as an art student, but then trained for a theatre career at the Actors Studio, at the American Theatre Wing, and with Sanford Meisner at the Neighborhood Playhouse.
He made his Broadway debut in 1944 in Carmen Jones. Among his many other Broadway appearances, he understudied Boris Karloff as Captain Hook in Peter Pan in 1950, then played the leading role of De Lawd in the 1951...
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