Full Name Ralph Cooper Name Ralph Cooper | Role Actor Movies The Duke Is Tops | |
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Born January 16, 1908New York City, New York, U.S ( 1908-01-16 ) People also search for Lena Horne, Laurence Criner | ||
Malcolm x interview with ralph cooper 1964
Ralph Cooper (January 16, 1908 – August 4, 1992), was an American actor, screenwriter, dancer and choreographer. Cooper is best known as the original master of ceremonies and founder of amateur night at the Apollo Theater in Harlem, New York City in 1935. He wrote, produced, directed and acted in ten motion pictures. Titles include, "Duke Is Tops," "Dark Manhattan," "Gangsters on the Loose" and "Gang War."
Contents
- Malcolm x interview with ralph cooper 1964
- Apollo theatre originator ralph cooper sr
- Biography
- Later life and death
- Filmography
- References
Apollo theatre originator ralph cooper sr
Biography
Cooper was born on January 16, 1908 in Harlem, New York City. He worked as a dancer in small downtown clubs near New York University, which he attended with plans of becoming a medical doctor. In July 1935, Cooper started the Apollo's Amateur Night which ran every Wednesday night. In 1937, Cooper formed Million Dollar Productions with black actor George Randol and white producers Harry Popkin and his brother Leo Popkin to produce race films that he often starred in, wrote, produced and directed. Tino Balio has written that, "Million Dollar, more than any other company, moved black filmmaking away from a marginalized form towards the mainstream, advancing considerably its reputation and ability to attract audiences."
Later life and death
The Apollo closed in the mid–1970s, but the contest was restarted in 1985 after the renovations were completed. Cooper was again the master of ceremonies. His son, Ralph Cooper II, took over the show after his father was hospitalized with cancer in late–1986. He died on August 4, 1992 due to cancer. Cooper is interred in Woodlawn Cemetery in The Bronx, New York City.