'Blacula' Actor Dead At 78

CBS News ^ | 6/16/03

[areafiftyone]

(AP) Actor William Marshall, who played a variety of roles, from Shakespeare's "Othello" on stage, to "Blacula" in the camp movie classic, died Wednesday. He was 78.

Marshall, who suffered in recent years from Alzheimer's disease, died in a Los Angeles rest home.

The actor appeared in dozens of films and in popular TV series such as "Star Trek" in the 1960s and "The Jeffersons" in the 1980s.

He taught acting workshops at colleges and at the Mufandi Institute in Watts, where he served as director in the 1960s.

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

Marshall was born in Gary, Ind., and studied acting at the Actors Studio and the Neighborhood Playhouse in New York City after spending several years as an art student at New York University.

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."

Marshall brought the same dignity to the title role in the 1972 movie, "Blacula" and its sequel, "Scream, Blacula, Scream!" First conceived as a dimwitted count, Marshall modeled the character on the original Count Dracula in Bram Stoker's 19th century novel.

[Inspectorette]

I'm not sure too many people remember him, but he was a handsome, elegant man with a gorgeous speaking voice. I was appalled when he starred in "Blacula" - unless he was doing it as a lark. I hope he didn't do it because he needed the money. He could've made a fortune as a voiceover in commercials.

[skeeter]

Of all the films to have in your obituary headline...

[PISANO]

I remember him and his VOICE. Ranks right up there with James Earl Jones. Great pipes!

[areafiftyone]

I actually watched this picture a few times on tv. It was campy but fun!

[Tijeras_Slim]

Daystrom

[Conservomax]

is he famous enough to fulfill the death in threes superstition? Because Hume Cronin died, that would make "death in fours".

[Billy_bob_bob]

"...I....AM.....BLACKULA!"

What a classic line.

[T Lady]

Oh dear. There goes another of the Greatest Generation of actors. It seems when one passes away, several others soon follow.

-Regards, T.

[The Hon. Galahad Threepwood]

[Aaron0617]

Daystrom

Oh..that was one of my fav Star Treks. Was that also the name of the computer?

Loved his facial mannerisms in that scene before Spock gave him the nerve pinch.

'Look what we've done to your mighty star ships.

Anyway...RIP.

[GodBlessRonaldReagan]

Not Dr. Richard Daystrom! And he also was the second King of Cartoons on Pee-Wee! I even have his action figure! This is series!!!!!!

[The Hon. Galahad Threepwood]

[MinuteGal]

Anyone have a photo, please?

Leni

[gridlock]

The M-5 is the ultimate in duotronic systems...

[areafiftyone]

Yes it comes in threes usually! Gregory Peck, Hume Cronyn and now William Marshall!

[sfvgt]

I'm sure this guy is glad he is being remembered for Blacula and not that other crap he starred.....

[newgeezer]

Here you go...

[catonsville]

I saw him do an excerpt from Othello on Steve Allen's marvelous PBS show "Meeting Of The Minds". He was great.
And an actor with that presense to die of Alzheimers is so sad.

[william clark]

A class act. He'll be missed.