Paul Robeson

Immediately recognizable, Paul Robeson's spectacularly booming bass voice loomed over the 20th century. He first made his name as a stage and screen actor in the 1920s, before garnering significant acclaim for a London turn as Othello in 1930. By the mid-'30s, he was a semi-regular feature in cinema, and in 1936, he appeared in Show Boat, which included his stirring rendition of "Ol' Man River." His outspokenness against discrimination and injustice at home and abroad resulted in him suffering severely at the hands of his own government. The confiscation of his passport in the mid-'50s, severely damaged his career when he was in his vocal prime. A brilliant mind, Robeson spent his final years touring, writing, and lecturing. He passed away in 1976 at the age of 77.