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Woody Strode
Veteran character actor, legendary athlete and pioneer, Woody Strode was the last of The Professionals
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| Strode (far right) with Ernest Borgnine and amigos in The Revengers. |
Most people, especially those under 30, will blink and say "Who?" at the mention of the man's name. Remind them of the most famous gladiatorial combat ever filmed and, even if they haven't seen Spartacus, they know the scene. They will nod, impressed, and say, "Oh, yeah. That guy."
Woodrow Wilson Woolwine Strode was born in Los Angeles in 1914. Though conscious of his Native American heritage (one quarter Blackfoot, one eighth each Cherokee and Creek -a "Negro-Indian breed", to use his words), Strode knew that in the eyes of white audiences he would always be "a colored boy." Nevertheless, his striking physiognomy, high-planed cheekbones and droop-lidded eyes, worked to his advantage in Hollywood. As Strode put it, "because of my nixed background I could play anyone from the third world," and he did (a Comanche in Two Rode Together, an Apache in Shalako, a Chinese in 7 Women and a Mongol in Genghis Khan).
In viewing many of Strode's films one feels a pang of loss all too often. His was the part of the stalwart sidekick or imposing secondary villain. He undoubtedly could have been, at the very least, a lead character actor (picture him in any of Boris Karloffs roles - Frankenstein's monster!), if not a genuine action hero. Watching him in his early roles, you get the feeling a young Woody Strode could have unceremoniously knocked Wesley Snipes, Patrick Swayze, Steven Seagal and company on their collective ass.
Strode's autobiography, "Gold Dust" (Madison, 1990), is nearly 75% finished before its author gets around to discussing his life in the film industry. No surprise. His highly distinguished career began as a track-and-field and football star at UCLA, where he competed against the likes of Jackie Robinson and Jesse Owens. Leni Riefenstahl called his "the greatest physique of any athlete I have ever seen." On the audio commentary on if the Criterion laserdisc edition of Spartacus, Peter Ustinov describes him as "frightfully athletic," and notes that Strode was cast as the gladiator in part because he could actually hurl the trident in the film's climactic fight scene.
It was through his stint on the professional wrestling circuit that Strode was first noticed and offered film parts. His first real break came in 1956 as the King of Ethiopia in DeMille's remake of The Ten Commandments. Interestingly, Strode was originally cast and has substantially more screen time as one of Nina Foch's palanquin-bearers, a part for which he receives no on-screen credit.
In Lewis Milestone's Korean war film, Pork Chop Hill (1959), Strode got his first chance to shine in a meaty supporting role. The viewer's initial impression of Strode's Private Franklin is that of a coward; this verges on unbelievability, given Strode's obvious virility and stature. But Strode was a good enough actor to overcome the limitations of his outward appearance.
During the course of the battle, it becomes apparent that Private Franklin is asking himself the timeless question asked by all soldiers: is this foreign soil worth dying for? Private Franklin's commanding officer, played by Gregory Peck, shares these doubts, as it turns out. However, the question acquires considerably more weight coming from Strode's character, who significantly points out that he wouldn't fight and die for what he has at home either.
Strode's most significant actordirector collaboration was with John Ford, with whom he made four films and whose close friend he remained until the director's death in 1973. The best of these was their first picture together, Sergeant Rutledge (1960). The film's timeliness with regard to the Civil Rights movement is striking: in the title role, Strode plays a black soldier on trial for the murder of a white man and his daughter. Though he only received fifth billing (?!), Strode was unquestionably the lead. His performance is real, electric. (He would later refer to this scene as "the most emotional moment in my acting career.")
He would only play one other lead role in his life, in Seated at His Right, Italy's Cannes entry for 1968. In the early seventies, during the height of the blaxploitation trend, the film was finally released in this country under the evocative title Black Jesus (it is currently unavailable on home video).
Strode was a star in Italy, where he lived between 1969 and 1973. Though well into middle-age in films like Once Upon a Time in the West (1968) and The Deserter (1971), Strode still looks extraordinarily vital, fitter than most men half his age. Even in his later films, like Vigilante (1982) and Jungle Warriors (1984), the 70 year-old Strode looks like he could believably and seriously kick your ass. Only toward the end, in Storyville (1992) and Posse (1993), does he appear sufficiently aged to play old men. His final film, Sam Raimi's The Quick and the Dead, opened in February.
Strode's attitude toward his craft was characteristically
modest: "I was strictly a mechanic. They told me what to do; I
did it, took the money and got out of there."
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COMMENTS | POST A COMMENT 
- Comment by mbo on 11/01/07 at 3:36 pm
would have like to have been able to see he and
steven seagal together- Comment by James Lavender on 2/15/08 at 12:09 am
Woody Strode was married to my Cousin Tina, He was one of my heroes as a kid. I can remeber him in Spatacus and The Ten Commandments. I felt his emotions we he potrayed Sargeant Rutledge. It was great going up to visit he and Tina in Glendora, I alway received a great history lesson, I sat and listened to the stories he told of his life and that of his friends for hours. he gave me a copy of his book Gold Dust and autographed it for me, I have known alot of professional athletes and actor and I was never compelled to ask any of them for their autographed, his was an honor to have. I remember the day of his funeral I had the opportunity to speak to Bill Cosby, I mentioned that Woody was being laid to rest that day and he said, “ That’s why it’s a rainy Day”. Woody was a Great man and I miss him even to this day.
- Comment by rob gardner on 4/14/08 at 2:25 pm
Woody Strode...what a great actor. There will always only be one “Pompey”.
- Comment by Samuel A. Foster, Jr. on 4/28/08 at 2:38 pm
Woody was a magnificent presence on the silver screen. I was surprized to learn of the many many films in which he acted. “Spatacus” and “Sergeant Rutledge” are my favorites. The fact that he was one of the first Black athletes to play in the modern era {late 1940’s) professional football makes him unigue for his time.
Along with the Great Paul Robeson, who was a football All-American, professional footballer, film and stage actor and vocalist extrodinair, Woody Strode made a his mark in American History.- Comment by Cpt Kirk on 6/21/08 at 11:44 pm
Im watching The Professionals on AMC at this moment. I recall it from the mid 60’s genre of mercenarycum Dirty Dozen cum Special Forces movies...a few good men, a few specialists. like Woddy Stode, expert with knife, rope, and bow & arrow....
This film and its soundtrack remain a true Western classic IMOWoody, a major star by this time in 1966, stands tall as an icon
which is what he was in life....
rest easy brother,
Cpt Kirk the Gar Hunter
- Comment by Tudor Electric Ftooball on 7/15/08 at 6:17 am
Woody was a strong character indeed. He stood tall int he face of adversity and will leave behind a legion of fans..!
- Comment by ram on 8/01/08 at 8:54 am
I mentioned that Woody was being laid to rest that day and he said, “ That’s why it’s a rainy Day”. Woody was a Great man and I miss him even to this day.
- Comment by James Lavender on 8/01/08 at 6:37 pm
Hey Ram who are you and why are you stealing my comments?
- Comment by karla reid on 12/07/08 at 5:23 pm
I love the movie Sgt. Rutledge and have always admired him.My 13yr old son happened to watch the movie with me and asked me if the actor Lance Reddick was related to Woody Strode.They look alike and their presence on screen over shadows everybody. Wish Woody was around now.Nobody can walk in his shoes.
- Comment by Daniel Lonsdale on 1/01/09 at 8:24 pm
I remember watching that famous scene in ‘Spartacus’ where Woody Strode’s gladiator persona fights Kirk ‘Spartacus’ Douglas. I was sure Sparty was dead meat. I couldn’t imagine anybody winning in a fight with that huge black dude with the incredible muscles. If we had been a less racist society in those days Strode would have been a super-star. At least he did have a long film career and is remembered well by millions of people who viewed his work.
- Comment by Kalai Strode on 2/22/09 at 4:22 am
Woody Strode was my father. I value him more and more each day. He was sincere, honest, and optimistic. He was a good role model, not to me only, not to all African Americans only either, but to all Americans. He overcame more obstacles then we could imagine, and did it with grace and integrity. He integrated the National Football League with Kenny Washington, and portrayed roles of dignity throughout his film career. I wish he could have lived long enough to see an African American elected as President of the United States. I believe his legacy laid a foundation for that, and for all other minorities who have tried to crack the glass ceiling of racial discrimation. He was a very good man.
- Comment by hotel on 3/09/09 at 2:50 pm
I like their hats.
- Comment by David Bibby on 4/09/09 at 8:45 am
He was amazing the FIRST great black actor
This story was published in the April 1995 MovieMaker Magazine. The headline was:
Crossing the Line / Veteran character actor, legendary athlete and pioneer, Woody Strode was the last of The Professionals
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