BROCK PETERS GRADUATED FROM M&A

Brock Peters 1961

Brock Peters was an actor, singer, producer who employed his powerful bass voice and strong presence in a wide range of characters. Peters was best remembered for his performance in the film "To Kill A Mockingbird" and later in his career for his appearances as Admiral Cartwright in the Star Trek feature films and as Joseph Sisko in the Star Trek: Deep Space Nine T.V. series.

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Peters was born George Gibson Fisher on July 2, 1927**, in Harlem, NY, in Harlem Hospital. His mother was Alma A. Norford, a native of St. Kitt in the West Indies, and she worked as a practical nurse. His father was a sailor named Sonnie Fisher of Senegal, Africa. He studied at the Sorbonne and came to New York to teach. Sadly, Sonnie Fisher died when his son was five years old (1932). 

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At nine years old (1936), Peters was encouraged by his mother to pursue his musical interests. He became a boy soprano at the St. Phillips Church on 134th Street near Adam Clayton Powell Jr. Boulevard in Harlem. He also played the violin at the local YMCA basement theater on 135th Street between Lenox Avenue and Seventh Avenue and participated in the nearby American Negro Theater. 

St. Philips Church, on 134th Street in Harlem

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In 1937, Peters was admitted to the High School of Music and Art, where he studied classical singing (baritone), violin, drama, and music theory. He immediately signed up for several productions in its musical theater program. Peters (George Fisher) graduated from Music and Art in 1941, when he was about 14 years old.*

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44th St. Theater, 216 W. 44th St., New York, NY

Upon graduation from M&A, Peters fielded many more odd jobs than he did acting jobs, often working as a hospital orderly at night. During this time, Peters made his Broadway debut at the age of 15 in a revival of Gershwin's Porgy and Bess on September 13, 1943, at the 44th Street Theater. He played one of the children in Catfish Row in the Broadway revival.

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Peters attended but soon left City College of New York to tour with Anna Lucasta (starting at the Mansfield Theater). During the long Broadway, and then Chicago, Illinois (Civic Theater), run as the juvenile lead, Peters graduated from Chicago University with a degree in physical education (1944-1945).

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From 1945 through 1947, Peters toured with the Leonard DePaur Infantry Chorus (of which he was a civilian member). In 1953, Peters made his television debut as a singer on Arthur Godfrey's Talent Scouts, where he won first prize on the show - with the song '900 Miles' - which included a recording contract.

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Sometime during the 1950s (definite date not found), George Fisher formally changed his name to Brock Peters. The decision to do so was to change it to something a bit more memorable (suggested by his agent). The future African American entrepreneur Peter Brock was a childhood friend. Because he had always liked the name, Peters merely switched its order and presented the idea of ‘Brock Peters’ to his agent.

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In 1954, his fine bass-baritone voice was singled out for praise by critics, and producers eventually asked Peters to join Carmen's cast. His participation in the Otto Preminger production as Sargent Brown was also Peters' movie debut.

On the movie set of Carmen (1954) - Dorothy Dandridge and Brock Peters.

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Peters played Crown in the 1959 movie version of Porgy and Bess.

Porgy and Bess (Movie) 1959 - Sammy Davis Jr., Dorothy Dandridge, Brock Peters

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During 1956, Peters sang background vocals on the 1956 hit "Day-O" by Harry Belafonte, as well as the Belafonte hit "Mama Look at Bubu." Peters expressed his singing talents in albums of his own in Sing'a Man (1959), Brock Peters at the Village Gate (1960), and Mysterious Instinct (1962) with Ray Barreto.

1959

1960

1962

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In 1961, Brock Peters married Dolores 'DiDi' Daniels. She was a television producer and public relations consultant. Their daughter, Lisa Jo Peters, was born on November 3, 1962.

Brock Peters, daughter, Lisa Jo and Dolores Peters - 1962

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During 1962, Tom Robinson's character in To Kill a Mockingbird, played by Peters, became one of his most notable roles. The movie revolved around the story of a black man falsely accused of raping a white girl.

To Kill A Mockingbird (1962) - Gregory Peck and Brock Peters

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During 1969, Peters and his cast performed their cross-country tour in The Great White Hope in various cities throughout the U.S. The play's theme was about the first Black heavyweight boxing champion.

Jet Magazine, December 1969 Brock Peters and Claudia Nevins

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Peters was the 1973 Tony Award nominee for Best Actor in a Musical for Kurt Wall and Maxwell Anderson's Lost in the Stars, in which he played Stephen Kumalo and sang the title song. Peters reprised his role in the 1974 screen version of Lost in the Stars.

Peters in Lost in the Stars

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Peters was honored by the Black Filmmakers Hall of Fame in 1976 and earned a Life Achievement Award from the National Film Society in 1977.
 
 Peters played in multiple T.V. movies: Abe Lincoln: Freedom Fighter (1978), Roots: The Next Generations (1979), The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn (1981).
 
 From 1982 through 1989, Peters played Frank Lewis in the CBS soap opera Young and the Restless.

Cast of Young and the Restless Peters (lower right)

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Peters also wore the hat of film and T.V. producer. Under the banner of his production company, Delbro Enterprises, Peters produced the feature film "Five on the Black Hand Side" (1973) and the PBS documentary "This Far by Faith (1975). He also executive produced the PBS special "Voices of Our People" (1982), which won multiple Los Angeles Area Emmy Awards.

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Peters as Admiral Cartwright

In 1986, Peters played Fleet Admiral Cartwright in the movie Star Trek IV: The Voyage Home, and in 1991 he reprised this role in Star Trek VI: The Undiscovered Country. 
 
 And in May 1988, Peters proudly participated in the NBC telefilm To Heal The Nation about the erection of the Vietnam War memorial.
 
 Peters then starred in NBC's Polly on The Magical World of Disney during November 1989, along with Keshia Knight Pulliam and Celeste Holm. 

Brock Peters in Polly (November 1989), with Keshia Knight Pulliam and Celeste Holm.

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In 1989, Peters starred with actress Julie Harris in the theatrical version of Driving Miss Daisy during its national tour, and in 1990, Peters and Nancy Travis starred in My Children! My Africa! at the Los Angeles Theater Center.

Julie Harris and Brock Peters in Driving Miss Daisy

Peters and Nancy Travis in My Children! My Africa!

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The Screen Actors Guild honored Brock Peters with a Life Achievement Award in 1990, citing his durability and versatility.
 
 Sadly, his wife of 31 years, Dolores Peters, passed away in 1990.

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In April 1992, Peters received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. The ceremony took place in front of the Hollywood Roosevelt Hotel.

Democrat and Chronicle newspaper (Rochester, New York) · April 26, 1992, Page 47

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Continuing with his connection to the Star Trek universe, Peters played Joseph Sisko in the television series Star Trek: Deep Space Nine from January 1, 1996, through October 7, 1998.

Peters as Joseph Sisko

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Peters, who was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer in January 2005, had been receiving chemotherapy treatment, and his condition worsened months later. Peters died peaceably in bed, at 78 years old, surrounded by family on August 23, 2005, in Los Angeles, CA. He was survived by companion Marilyn Darby and daughter Lisa Jo Peters. A public memorial service was held at St. John's Episcopal Church in Los Angeles.

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Peters' community involvement is legendary. He was chairman of Dance Theatre of Harlem, a member of Free Southern Theatre, and on the creative board of Third World Cinema. He was the former chairman of the California State Arts Commission; on the boards of KCET-TV, the Performing Arts Council of the Music Center, the L.A. Task Force for Africa and L.A. Relations, the Congressional Black Caucus' Communications Task Force, the Sassoon Foundation, the National Urban League Guild, and the National Foundation for Advancement in the Arts; and Chairman of the Brotherhood Crusade Black United Fund.

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Upon receiving the SAG honor in 1990, Brock Peters said:
"I have lived a life of amazement, sorrows, and glories. I could bemoan all of the barriers and difficulties I have experienced and fought over the years, but I have been extremely fortunate in my life to find friends who have gathered around me in the times of greatest need or who were just there to be helpful or to seek help from me or to just be friends."

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*I found several sources stating that Brock Peters (George Fisher) graduated from the High School of Music and Art, but I could find no trace of him in the spring or winter yearbooks of 1941. The Alumni and Friends of LaGuardia High School website list Brock Peters as a Notable Alumni, but there is no graduation year attached. Lloyd A. Green

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**I based Mr. Peters' date of birth on data gathered across many web information that consistently states that he was born on July 2, 1927. After a comment on this article from Ms. Judy Naimark (see 1/15/21 comment), I checked Ancestry.com and found the following: 
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 1. A draft card belonging to George Gibson Fisher (Brock Peters) with the date of birth July 2, 1922

2. A notation from the Social Security Applications and Claims Index:
Name: George Gibson Fisher[Brock Peters]
Gender: Male
Race: Black
Birth Date: 2 Jul 1922
Birth Place: New York, New York[New York, New York]
Death Date: 23 Aug 2005
Father: Sonnie Fisher
Mother: Alma A Norford
SSN: --- -- ----
Notes: Sep 1939: Name listed as GEORGE GIBSON FISHER; Feb 1962: Name listed as BROCK PETERS

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With this updated information, Mr. Peters was likely born five years before the general information (including mine), which states that he was born in 1927. In other words, Ms. Naimark is correct that his date of birth was incorrect. Mr. Peters probably graduated from M&A at age eighteen in 1940 or 1941. As written before, no definite proof of his graduation from the High School of Music and Art can so far be located.

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