Bert Williams
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Born Name:
Egbert Austin Williams
Born Date: November 12, 1874
Born Place: Nassau, Bahamas
Died Date: March 4, 1922
Died Place: New York City
Occupations: Entertainer, actor, comedian
Brief Biography: Bert Williams (1874–1922) was a pioneering Bahamian-American entertainer, vaudeville star, and comedian. Celebrated by contemporaries like W.C. Fields as "the funniest man I ever saw—and the saddest," Williams shattered racial barriers as the first Black man to take a leading role on Broadway and star in mainstream cinema.
Early Life and Theatrical Rise:
Birth & Childhood: Born in Nassau, Bahamas, he later moved with his family to California as a child.
Williams and Walker: In 1893, he formed a legendary comedy duo with George W. Walker. The pair became the leading African-American comedians of the era, widely popularizing the "cakewalk" dance.
Blackface: Because of the racial restrictions of the time, Williams—who was Black—was often forced to perform in blackface. However, rather than playing into harmful stereotypes, he used his performances to explore universal, everyday situations through masterful pantomime.
Groundbreaking Achievements:
Broadway: In 1903, Williams made history in In Dahomey, becoming the first Black performer to star in a full-length Broadway musical. The hit show was so successful it traveled to London, where they gave a command performance for King Edward VII.
The Ziegfeld Follies: Williams joined the prestigious Ziegfeld Follies in 1910. As the only Black performer in the production, he was a massive draw and performed alongside white co-stars.
Early Cinema: He became one of the first Black comedians to appear in film, writing, directing, and starring in the 1916 silent short A Natural Born Gambler.
Recording Artist: Williams was by far the best-selling Black recording artist prior to 1920.
Later Years:
Overcoming Prejudice: Despite his status as a national superstar, Williams faced severe and constant discrimination, often having to use service elevators in the high-class hotels where he stayed.
Born Date: November 12, 1874
Born Place: Nassau, Bahamas
Died Date: March 4, 1922
Died Place: New York City
Occupations: Entertainer, actor, comedian
Brief Biography: Bert Williams (1874–1922) was a pioneering Bahamian-American entertainer, vaudeville star, and comedian. Celebrated by contemporaries like W.C. Fields as "the funniest man I ever saw—and the saddest," Williams shattered racial barriers as the first Black man to take a leading role on Broadway and star in mainstream cinema.
Early Life and Theatrical Rise:
Birth & Childhood: Born in Nassau, Bahamas, he later moved with his family to California as a child.
Williams and Walker: In 1893, he formed a legendary comedy duo with George W. Walker. The pair became the leading African-American comedians of the era, widely popularizing the "cakewalk" dance.
Blackface: Because of the racial restrictions of the time, Williams—who was Black—was often forced to perform in blackface. However, rather than playing into harmful stereotypes, he used his performances to explore universal, everyday situations through masterful pantomime.
Groundbreaking Achievements:
Broadway: In 1903, Williams made history in In Dahomey, becoming the first Black performer to star in a full-length Broadway musical. The hit show was so successful it traveled to London, where they gave a command performance for King Edward VII.
The Ziegfeld Follies: Williams joined the prestigious Ziegfeld Follies in 1910. As the only Black performer in the production, he was a massive draw and performed alongside white co-stars.
Early Cinema: He became one of the first Black comedians to appear in film, writing, directing, and starring in the 1916 silent short A Natural Born Gambler.
Recording Artist: Williams was by far the best-selling Black recording artist prior to 1920.
Later Years:
Overcoming Prejudice: Despite his status as a national superstar, Williams faced severe and constant discrimination, often having to use service elevators in the high-class hotels where he stayed.