Rupert Crosse

Rupert Crosse was an African-American actor. In 1969, Crosse was the first African American to receive a nomination for the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor. Crosse was born in New York City, but was raised on the island of Nevis by his grandparents. Nevis is one of the Leeward Islands of the Caribbean Sea. It was a British colony until 1967, when it became one of the West Indies Associated States. Crosse returned to the United States in order to serve in the United States Army. Following his military service, he was educated at Bloomfield College in Bloomfield, New Jersey. He studied acting under John Cassavetes, and made his film debut in the Cassavetes' directed film Shadows (1958). He played the manager Rupert. Crosse was 31-years-old at the time of his film debut. Crosse appeared regularly in guest star roles in television throughout the 1960s. His next film was Cassavetes' Too Late Blues (1961), about the life of a struggling jazz band. Crosse played bit parts in the le