In Remembrance: William Marshall

     William Marshall, the actor best known to film fans for starring in the blaxploitation/ horror film Blacula (1972) and its sequel Scream, Blacula, Scream! (1973) passed away on Wednesday, June 11, 2003 in Los Angeles. He was 78.

     Born in Gary, Indiana on August 19,1924, Marshall studied art at New York University before moving on to studying acting at the Actors Studio and the Neighborhood Playhouse. After a few small film roles, he first achieved some notice in 1968’s The Boston Strangler. His most successful role came in 1972 when he portrayed the vampiric Prince Manuwalde in the cult classic Blacula and its 1973 sequel Scream, Blacula, Scream! The role was originally written to show the vampire as fairly stupid, but Marshall shaped his characterization more in the dignified manner of Bram Stoker’s Count Dracula.

     In addition to his film roles, Marshall also appeared on various television series including The Alfred Hitchcock Hour, Bonanza, Star Trek, Rawhide, The Man From UNCLE and The Jeffersons. He portrayed the King of Cartoons on Pee Wee’s Playhouse from 1987 to 1991.

     Marshall’s main love was stage acting, where he excelled at portraying historical figures like singer Paul Robeson and civil rights activist Frederick Douglass. He was also well known for his portrayal of Shakespeare’s Othello, having played the Moorish king in productions in both the United States and Europe.

     He also taught acting workshops on various college campuses including University of California at Irvine and the Mufandi Institute in Watts, Los Angeles.