Actor. Born in Kingston, Jamaica, he was raised in Boston and attended Northeastern Law School before initiating his acting career in the Broadway drama "Big White Fog" (1940). During World War II, he served with the US Naval Reserves and launched his Hollywood career in the 1952 picture "The Cimarron Kid." Silvera, a light-skinned African-American was able to avoid typecasting, as he played a wide range of nationalities including Indian, Mexican and Oriental. Finding his niche in the role of heavies, he successfully balanced his career between TV, films and the stage, with a memorable supporting performance in the Marlon Brando picture "Viva Zapata!" (1952), and starring roles in the early Stanley Kubrick works "Fear and Desire" (1953) and "Killer's Kiss" (1955). Among his other film credits include "Mutiny on the Bounty" (1962), "Hombre" (1967), "Che!" (1969) and "Guns of the Magnificent Seven" (1969). He received a Tony Award nomination for his performances in the play "The Lady of the Camellias" (1963). His many television guest appearances include "The Twilight Zone," "Bonanza," "I Spy" and a noted performance as El Sordo in a 1967 episode of "The Wild, Wild West" titled "Night of the Jack O'Diamonds" as well as many others. Silvera may be best remembered by TV audiences for his part of Don Sebastian Montoya in the series "The High Chaparral" (1967 to 1970). In addition to his acting career, he founded the Theatre of Being, which helped guide the careers of young African-American's who wished to pursue acting careers. Silvera died suddenly at the age of 55, when he was electrocuted while trying to repair an appliance at his Pasadena home. His final film role in the picture "Valdez Is Coming" (1971) was released posthumously.
Actor. Born in Kingston, Jamaica, he was raised in Boston and attended Northeastern Law School before initiating his acting career in the Broadway drama "Big White Fog" (1940). During World War II, he served with the US Naval Reserves and launched his Hollywood career in the 1952 picture "The Cimarron Kid." Silvera, a light-skinned African-American was able to avoid typecasting, as he played a wide range of nationalities including Indian, Mexican and Oriental. Finding his niche in the role of heavies, he successfully balanced his career between TV, films and the stage, with a memorable supporting performance in the Marlon Brando picture "Viva Zapata!" (1952), and starring roles in the early Stanley Kubrick works "Fear and Desire" (1953) and "Killer's Kiss" (1955). Among his other film credits include "Mutiny on the Bounty" (1962), "Hombre" (1967), "Che!" (1969) and "Guns of the Magnificent Seven" (1969). He received a Tony Award nomination for his performances in the play "The Lady of the Camellias" (1963). His many television guest appearances include "The Twilight Zone," "Bonanza," "I Spy" and a noted performance as El Sordo in a 1967 episode of "The Wild, Wild West" titled "Night of the Jack O'Diamonds" as well as many others. Silvera may be best remembered by TV audiences for his part of Don Sebastian Montoya in the series "The High Chaparral" (1967 to 1970). In addition to his acting career, he founded the Theatre of Being, which helped guide the careers of young African-American's who wished to pursue acting careers. Silvera died suddenly at the age of 55, when he was electrocuted while trying to repair an appliance at his Pasadena home. His final film role in the picture "Valdez Is Coming" (1971) was released posthumously.
Bio by: C.S.
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FRANK
ALVIN
SILVERA
NEW YORK
BMA2
USNR
WORLD WAR II
JULY 24 1914
JUNE 11 1970
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