By dvdmike (68.72.172.108) on Tuesday, June 17, 2003 - 04:53 pm:

William Marshall, who played a variety of roles from Shakespeare's "Othello" onstage to "Blacula" in the camp movie classic, died Wednesday, June 11. He was 78.

Mr. Marshall, who suffered in recent years from Altzheimer's disease, died in a Los Angeles rest home. The actor appeared in dozens of films and in popular TV shows such as "Star Trek" in the 1960s and "The Jeffersons" in the 1980s.

On stage, Mr. Marshall portrayed singer/actor Paul Robeson and statesman Frederick Douglass, a role he spent 15 years researching. He eventually played the part of the famed abolitionist on television.

Mr. Marshall was born in Gary, Indiana on August 19, 1924 and studied acting at the Actors Studio and the Neighborhood Playhouse in New York City.
In Chicago, he appeared in a Lyric Opera production of Stravinsky's "Oedipus Rex" in 1968 and in Henrik Ibsen's "Enemy Of The People" at the Goodman Theatre in 1980.

He played the Moorish king in "Othello" in Europe and in the United States. The London Sunday Times once hailed him as "the best Othello of our time."
Mr. Marshall brought the same dignity to the title role in the 1972 movie "Blacula" and it's sequel, 1973's "Scream, Blacula, Scream!" Mr. Marshall modeled the character, first conceived as a dimwitted count, on the original Count Dracula in Bram Stoker's 19th century novel.

By KevGo (64.115.26.80) on Tuesday, June 17, 2003 - 04:57 pm:

William Marshall was an inspiration for many actors who are working today such as Avery Brooks ("Hawk" from Spencer For Hire & "Cisco" of Deep Space Nine). My brother Jesse, who is an actor, enjoyed Marshall's stage work. This man definitely did his homework when he researched for the role of Blacula.

May he have a peaceful journey.

Kevin Goins - KevGo

By Soul Sister (68.73.167.246) on Tuesday, June 17, 2003 - 05:58 pm:

My X was an old friend of his, they use to hang out, along with other actors (both black & white) at the Limelite in Greenwich Village in the 50's & 60's, before it became whatever kind of club it is today. I'll have to give him a call. Thanks for the post dvdmike.
S.S.

By M.McLeanTech (66.218.60.170) on Wednesday, June 18, 2003 - 11:38 am:

William Marshall had a very commanding deep voice, somewhat like the voice of actor James Earl Jones. He had a classic dignity which held up even when he played THE KING OF CARTOONS on the TV show Pee Wee's Playhouse, with Pee Wee Herman.

Mike McLean

By medusa9e2003 (66.73.8.200) on Wednesday, June 18, 2003 - 08:13 pm:

I could never watch Blacula or Scream Blacula Scream. I was so afraid of William Marshall, his voice, and the way he was made up 4 the movie.
2 this day, I haven't watched the Video I still have of him...I hope he made a very peaceful transition...that man scared the H--l out of me.

By R&B (138.238.41.154) on Thursday, June 19, 2003 - 09:47 am:

I'M VERY SORRY TO HEAR OF WILLIAM MARSHALL'S PASSING,HE WAS A GREAT ACTOR WHO NEVER GOT NEARLY ENOUGH CREDIT OR WORK IN THE INDUSTRY,IT PAINED ME TO SEE AND ACTOR OF HIS STATURE ACTING IN CRAP LIKE[BLACULA],TO ME HE WAS AS GOOD AS ANY ACTOR TODAY OR YESTERDAY.