Legendary actor, singer, and activist Harry Belafonte died at the age of 96 due to congestive heart failure on April 25 in Manhattan, according to the New York Times.
Born in Harlem, New York, in 1927, Belafonte rose to fame with hits such as “The Banana Boat Song” and “Day-O (The Banana Boat Song),” which became staples of the calypso genre.
He also appeared in several notable films, including 1954’s “Carmen Jones” and 1957’s “Island in the Sun.” In 1959, he made history as the first Black actor to win an Emmy Award for his performance in the television special “Tonight with Belafonte.”
By the 1960s, he had become a tireless activist for civil rights and social justice. Harry Belafonte has had a profound cultural impact as a musician, activist, and actor. Rest in power.
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