Lucius Blake Explained

Lucius Blake (1890–?), born Elusha Ebenezer Blake, was a Jamaica-born actor who appeared in more than 30 British films. The Guardian describes him as "possibly the most prolific black actor in early British cinema."^{[1] [2]}

Life

Blake was born in Jamaica and moved to the United States when he was 23 and later to the UK, where he began his film career. He appeared in more than 30 British films,^{[1] [3]} including a key part alongside Conrad Veidt in King of the Damned (1935).^[1] He was sometimes credited as J. Blake or Sam Blake.^[1]

Selected Filmography

• Sweeney Todd (1928)^[1]
• The American Prisoner (1929)^[1]
• King of the Damned (1935)^[1]
• The Mystery of the Mary Celeste (1935)^[1]
• Old Bones of the River (1938)^[1]
• Men of Two Worlds (1946)^[1]
• The End of the River (1947)^[1]
• Cry, the Beloved Country (1951)^[1]

Notes and References

1. News: Khomami . Nadia . 2023-10-02 . Overlooked black actor may have been most prolific in early British cinema . en-GB . The Guardian . 2023-10-02 . 0261-3077.
2. Web site: BBC Radio London - Robert Elms, Dr Lynne Guyton and The Life of Lucius Blake . 2023-10-02 . BBC . en-GB.
3. Web site: Buy cinema tickets for Library Talk: Lucius Blake, Film Artist: Britain’s Pioneer Black Character Actor BFI Southbank . 2023-10-02 . BFI . en.