William Warfield
William Warfield was an American concert bass-baritone singer and actor known for his appearances in stage productions, Hollywood films, and television programs.
Movie Actor | Soundtrack
January 22, 1920
August 25, 2002
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William Warfield was a distinguished American bass-baritone singer and actor, celebrated for his roles in stage productions, Hollywood films, and television programs. He gained prominence for his portrayal of Joe in the original production of “Show Boat” and his title role in George Gershwin’s opera “Porgy and Bess”. Warfield delivered memorable performances in the 1957 and 1959 NBC-TV’s Hallmark Hall of Fame production of Marc Connely’s “The Green Pastures”, starring as “De Lawd”. His other notable works include “The Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Story” and “The Great White Hope”. Warfield received a Grammy Award for his recording of “Porgy and Bess” and served as a music professor at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign for over twenty years.